Jorhat, May 23: The main accused in the attack on photo-journalists and student activists here last week was arrested from Jorabat in Meghalaya today.

Ganapat Bishnoi was coming from Shillong when Jorhat police accosted him at Jorabat this afternoon and brought him here.

Bishnoi, owner of several business establishments here, has been ?absconding? since May 18, the day the incident took place. His younger son, Sunderlal, is in police custody.

Trouble started that Thursday when activists of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) launched their ?Clean Jorhat? campaign to prevent encroachment on the pavements of Old Balibat.

As the youth activists started destroying items kept by the shopkeepers on the pavement, the traders attacked them along with the five photo-journalists who were covering the campaign.

In another development, the Upper Assam Chambers of Commerce has appealed to chief minister Tarun Gogoi to take necessary steps for restoration of peace in Jorhat town.

?We will fully co-operate for the return of peace in the town,? it stated in a memorandum.

The chambers stated that it was unfortunate that such an incident had occurred in the town, adding that the attack on photo-journalists was not intentional.

It explained that some youths, accompanied by photographers, came to Balibat and started ransacking shops. ?The fracas took place when the businessmen stopped them,? it added.

Besides, as the activists were not accompanied by a magistrate or police personnel, the business community took them as a group of miscreants. Yesterday, president of the chambers, Chattarmal Pincha, had resigned from his post following difference of opinion with his colleagues.