12 hour Assam bandh on Wednesday to protest eviction

The Mishing community has decided to bar leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] in Assam from entering Mishing villages.

The umbrella organization of the indigenous people of Assam has called for a 12 hour band, till 5 p.m., on Wednesday protesting against the ongoing eviction of indigenous people in many parts of Assam.

Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations [CCTOA] called the evictions “illegal.” CCTOA has threatened “coordinated movement” across the State against the eviction. Wednesday’s bandh has not witnessed any violence till mid day.

Meanwhile the Gauhati High Court has asked the



Government of Assam to suspend the eviction and file an affidavit in court clarifying the position of the government regarding eviction. Interestingly, while in 2013 Gauhati High Court ordered the eviction, the court itself stopped the eviction on Wednesday following large scale protests.

However, under severe criticism and political pressure from Mishing community organisations, Additional Advocate General of Assam [AAG], Devajit Saikia approached the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court headed by the Chief Justice this morning making oral submissions and seeking directions. Mr Saikia arugued that the matter should be treated with a humanitarian approach.