𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗺: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗼𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝟭𝟮-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵, 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗯𝗿𝗶 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.

Normal life came to a standstill in Dhubri district, Assam on Thursday, September 11 as the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AARKSU) enforced a 12-hour bandh to press for its long-standing demands.

Reports from across the district confirmed that the shutdown was near total and passed off peacefully. One of the most striking impacts was seen in the education sector, with schools and colleges remaining shut. At Agomani Higher Secondary School, AARKSU supporters prevented teachers and students from entering the premises, sending them back home in the morning hours.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to students and parents, but this bandh is essential to make our voices heard,” a union member told reporters.

The bandh also disrupted transportation, with both public and private vehicles staying off the roads. National and state highways passing through Dhubri wore a deserted look, affecting daily commuters and small traders alike.

AARKSU has been spearheading agitations for several years, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch Rajbongshi community and the creation of a separate Kamatapur state.

Thursday’s bandh was the latest in a series of protests aimed at intensifying pressure on the government to address these demands.