From Rishi Raj Baruah
Guwahati, Aug 12 (KNN)  Small units and tea estates of Assam have suffered enormously owing to disruption in roads and railway services caused by bandhs called by different organisations in their demand  a for a separate Bodoland.

“Small units have suffered losses upto 20 per cent in the past six-seven days due to delay in receiving raw-materials and sending finished products from one place to another because of the bandh,” said the State President of the North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA), Sailen Baruah today.

The bandh supporters have squatted on railway tracks and at several places on the national highways. They have also targeted vehicles and burnt tyres due to which truck drivers are not ready to pass through the affected areas, he said.

Many industries have remained closed due to the bandh and workers are not allowed to resume their work.  If the situation remains the same for a few days more, the small industry and tea states might suffer more.

That the supporters of bandh have threatened to hold more bandhs and disrupt road and railway services further, if their demands for organising meetings with the government for creation of separate states are not met soon, is cause for concern.
  
Further, supporters are trying to involve more people in the bandhs, bringing life to a complete standstill in the lower Assam districts. They have been encouraging labourers and students to participate in large numbers.  With the approach of the Independence Day on Thursday, the agitation is likely to intensify.  

All educational institutions, markets, offices and business establishments have remained closed during the bandh while vehicles were off the roads.
Also, supporters have destroyed public property and offices have been set ablaze across lower Assam. (KNN/GUNJ)