Trucks set ablaze during BTC bandh

KOKRAJHAR: The 12-hour BTC area bandh called by Adivasi National Convention in protest against the eviction drive in Ashrabari forest village of Chirang district witnessed several incidents of violence on Friday.
Five trucks carrying sand were burnt at Bhumka and a tempo was set ablaze at Satyapur in Gossaigaon. The bandh evoked maximum response in adivasi-dominated areas.
In Gossaigaon sub-division, offices and business establishments remained closed and vehicles were off the road.In Nayekgaon, a forest nursery office was ransacked and set on fire. The strike evoked lukewarm response in Kokrajhar as most of the offices and markets remained open.
The forest department had carried out an eviction drive in Asrabari forest village recently. As many as 16 families belonging to the adivasi community were rendered homeless.