Kokrajhar, Oct. 19: The All Bodoland Minority Students Union called a 24-hour bandh from 6am today in protest against the killing of a motor garage owner in Kokrajhar.

The bandh evoked response in the district headquarters of Kokrajhar and in minority-dominated areas of the district.

Most of the government offices, business establishments, banks, markets and shops remained closed and long-distance vehicles did not ply during the bandh. The movement of private vehicles was also thin during the bandh. However, educational institutions remained open.

Emergency services like hospitals, water and milk supply were exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Koirod Ali Sheik, 50, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kokrajhar town, near Assam oil depot on Monday evening. Sheikh was at his shop when he was shot from point-blank range. The assailants escaped on a bike.

The student union demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing of Sheik and immediate arrest of the culprits.

The union has blamed police and the district administration for failing to provide security to common people.

Moynuddinin Ali, general secretary of the Kokrajhar district unit of the union, said it was a matter of concern that the incident occurred in the main town and about 100 metres from the police outpost.