National

Opposition bandh affects normal life in Morigaon

Guwahati: Additional troops of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Assam’s Morigaon district on Saturday as tension gripped the area over the death of Communist Party of India leader Manoj Deka in alleged police brutalities. Normal life came to a grinding halt following a 12-hour bandh called by the Opposition parties and organisations.

Hundreds of bandh supporters took to the streets and shouted slogans against the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government, holding it responsible for Deka’s killing. Tyres were burnt on roads at Morigaon and other places in the district.

Deka, who sustained head injuries after he was allegedly beaten up by a constable in the presence of the officer in charge of the Morigaon station during a search operation for militants, died at a city hospital on Friday morning.

The State government has ordered a judicial probe into the incident. Mr. Gogoi condoled Deka and announced that due compensation would be paid to the bereaved family.

The Morigaon district units of the All-Assam Students’ Union, the Asom Gana Parishad and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad joined the CPI and other Left parties in demanding a high-level probe into the incident and action against the guilty.

The CPI State unit has convened an all-party condolence meeting at Morigaon for July 7.

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