Hailakandi, June 29: The 12-hour Barak Valley strike, called by several groups to protest Dispur's decision to curtail holidays, particularly during Durga Puja, in the schools of Barak Valley, passed off peacefully today.

The strike was called by the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students' Association (ACKHSA), Barak Valley Democratic Party, Union Territory Demand Committee, Amra Bangali, Purbanchal Gana Aikya Mancha, Barak Gana Parishad and Separate Barak Demand Committee and was supported by the Congress, the NSUI and other Opposition parties.

ACKHSA adviser Rupam Nandi Purkayastha, main convener of the strike, said 110 protesters were arrested in the Barak Valley today and later released. Eighteen were arrested from Cachar, 60 from Karimganj and 32 from Hailakandi district.

In Karimganj, Congress MLA Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha of North Karimganj was also arrested by the police along with his supporters. Vehicular traffic went off the roads and most of the offices and financial institutions were closed.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Purkayastha alleged that the state government was showing a step-motherly attitude towards Barak Valley by dropping important dates from the holiday list of schools. For the first time, the state education department has curtailed the 24-day holiday during Durga Puja to four days. Besides, holidays for Manasha puja, Chat puja, Shivratri, Veer Tikendrajit's birthday, Shab-e-Baraat and Fateha Dohaj Daham have also been scrapped. The holiday on Bengali Martyrs' Day on May 19 has been cancelled too. The government had to declare "no classes" this year on May 19 after prolonged protest by students' organisations and leading citizens, he added.

Silchar MP Sushmita Dev condemned the state government's attitude towards Barak Valley and said there is a tradition of long holidays during Durga Puja as it is the biggest festival of the Bengalis.

Assam Deputy Speaker and Silchar MLA Dilip Paul criticised the calling of a strike during an emergency situation like floods in the villages of Barak Valley, saying it was not justified.

He said he had discussed the matter with chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and they had assured him that it would be reviewed. Purkayastha said he had also spoken to Parimal Suklavaidya, an MLA from Barak Valley and a minister, and the latter had told him that Dispur may consider the matter. However, they have not got any response yet, Purkayastha added.