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| (Above) The usually busy road near Fancy Bazar bears an empty look. (Below) The crossroads near Ambari lie equally deserted on Thursday. Pictures by UB Photos |
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May 31. Passengers who landed at Guwahati railway station today were seen walking to the nearest hotels as life came to a grinding halt because of the strike.
Adding to the misery of the passengers, no private city buses plied during the day and the presence of government buses on the roads was negligible.
As train movement was not affected during the strike, people kept on landing at the station and found no other way but to pay high fare as demanded by the auto vans to go a few kilometres. Around 10 auto vans were seen waiting outside the railway station.
Gokul Bora, who landed at the station around 2pm was to go to Sivasagar. He said he would stay at a hotel for a few hours and go home in a night super.
The all-India strike was called by the NDA and Left parties to protest the hike in petrol price. Shops downed shutters, schools and colleges were closed and all city roads were empty barring movements of a few private vehicles during the strike.
The strike passed off peacefully here. However, AGP and BJP members burnt tyres on the roads in different parts of the city such as Bhangagarh, Maligaon, Dispur and Ambari.
BJP spokesperson Santanu Bharali said around 100 of their supporters were picked up by police during the strike. "Around 100 of our supporters were picked up by the police," Bharali said. He thanked the people for supporting the strike and said the issue (for calling the strike) has become an issue of the common man.
"Each and every family has been affected by the price hike. Our issue for the strike was not political. The 100 per cent success of the strike only proves its popular support," he said.
AGP leader Ramendra Narayan Kalita said around 80 of their supporters were picked up by the police around 10am. "Besides, 80 in Guwahati, another 300 supporters of our party was picked up by the police during the strike," Kalita said
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