One of the busiest stretches in Sivasagar, Temple Road, wears a deserted look on Tuesday during the 36-hour strike called by ATASU. Picture by UB Photos

Jorhat, May 8: The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) called off its 36-hour Assam strike from 5pm today, even as it crippled normal life in all Upper Assam districts in the past 12 hours.

The students’ body had called the general strike from 5am today, but called it off following a discussion between a government delegation led by parliamentary secretary (home) Sarat Saikia and the union’s representatives at Sivasagar circuit house this afternoon.

The government, while appealing to the students’ body to call off the strike, has agreed to provide government jobs to one family member of Debojit Lahon, an ATASU local leader and Gobin Mouri, who died in an incident last Friday. The government has also paid Rs 50,000 compensation to the next of kin of the victims.

The state government has also promised to provide free medical treatment to the two injured ATASU activists.

The students’ body has been demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the victim and Rs 5 lakh for the two injured. The union has also demanded action against the police personnel of Cherekapar police outpost, who were allegedly present at the time of the incident but did nothing to stop the culprits, who attacked the group of students.

Mayur Borgohain, general secretary of ATASU, said they called off the strike after the government pledged to provide government jobs to a family member of both the victims and provide free medical treatment to the injured.

“The government has also promised to take necessary action against the police personnel of Cherekapar police outpost,” he said.

The union had already imposed a 24-hour Sivasagar district general strike on May 5 in protest against the incident, where two ATASU activists died and two others were injured, when workers of a steel factory allegedly attacked them in the Chunpura area on Friday night. The strike had snapped road communication between Upper and lower Assam.

The 12-hour strike today was total in all Upper Assam districts, with vehicles remaining off the road and all shops and business establishments downing shutters during the day.

Government offices and educational institutions also remained closed.

Several vehicles were also damaged as ATASU activists threw stones on cars and buses plying on National Highway 37 early this morning.

Activists also burned tyres on different parts of the highway to impose the strike.

Police sources said at least two ATASU members were arrested while they were attacking a Bolero vehicle belonging to a tea garden at Sonari town in Sivasagar district early this morning.