Bongaigaon, April 7: The Adivasi National Convention (Movement Wing) today put up blockades on national highways at six different places across five districts of lower Assam for five hours to draw the government's attention towards its demands.

The blockades were put up on national highways in Kokrajhar (Telipara and Karigaon), Chirang (Kajalgaon), Dhubri (Bahalpur), Sonitpur (Orang) and Nalbari (Kadam-tol) districts from 7am. The blockade disrupted road transport on National Highway 31C, 31 and 52 till noon.

The Convention's general secretary, Birsing Munda, said they had reduced the blockade hours from 10 to five after the Kokrajhar deputy commissioner assured them that the government would hold tripartite talks after Rongali Bihu to address their demands. "If the talks yield no results, the agitation will be intensified," he warned.

The Convention has demanded Scheduled Tribe status for the Adivasi community, rehabilitation for evicted Adivasis and land for tea garden workers.

The Convention, a conglomeration of 11 Adivasi groups, has sent a memorandum to Union home minister Rajnath Singh.