Silchar (Assam), Sept 03: A 12-hour 'Barak Valley' bandh began here today to protest against the damage of a Kali temple near Karimganj railway gate on Sunday night. The bandh, called by the Shiv Sena, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Bajrang Dal, evoked total response though no untoward incident was reported so far, official sources said here.
All shops, markets, business establishments, schools and other institutions remained closed and vehicular traffic remained off the roads, the sources said. Several persons have been picked up by police as a precautionary measure to prevent outbreak of violence during the bandh.
ABVP's Barak Valley organising secretary R Srikant told reporters here that the temple located in the border district was attacked allegedly by some "anti-national" elements and idols were also destroyed. DIG, southern range N M Dutta is camping at Karimganj to monitor the situation in the district which turned tense following the damage of the temple, but is now under control.
The bandh is also supported by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and some other political parties. Bureau Report