Guwahati, Nov. 7: Dispur Last Gate, the most preferred venue for protests in the city, has been made out of bounds for protesters with the state government deciding not to allow any “large gathering” in the area to avoid “public inconvenience”.

Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said from now the district administration would not give permission for holding mass gatherings at the Last Gate.

He said it was a government decision to avoid public inconvenience, particularly for patients on their way to hospitals, as the protests choke traffic on arterial roads in and around Dispur.

Over the years, the 60-foot road, which connects Last Gate traffic intersection with the supermarket, has witnessed scores of protests by different organisations, including some violent ones like the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) rally on July 22, 2011 in which three people had died in police firing.

Agnihotri, however, said an exception could be made in case of small gatherings after examining all pros and cons.

This decision has miffed the Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), which was denied permission to hold a demonstration scheduled for tomorrow at Last Gate.

“Since we are government employees we should have been allowed to hold a peaceful demonstration there. We protest against this government decision,” the Parishad’s president, Basab Kalita, said.

The SAKP — the apex body of the state government employees — is demanding payment of 33 month’s arrears to the employees and a hike in the fixed pay of casual employees and muster roll workers.

He said they have now decided to hold their demonstration near Dispur Ganesh Mandir from 11am to 2pm.