Chakka bandh in Assam to protest petrol price hike

Guwahati, June 29: Surface transport in Assam came to a near standstill today as vehicles kept off the roads in response to a 24-hour ‘chakka bandh’ to protest hike in fuel prices.

The strike began at 6 am today and all private long distance and city buses, mini buses and taxis went off the roads.

Only a few Assam State Transport Corporation buses operated, official sources said.

Auto-rickshaws and private vehicles, however, plied as usual.

Barring a few instances of stone pelting, no major incident had been reported so far, the sources said.

Attendance in offices was thin and business establishments and shops remained closed.

Schools and colleges were also closed and examinations were rescheduled.

The strike was called by Assam chapter of All India Road Transport Workers Federation and was supported by the Left parties, trade unions and most of the transport operators.
–PTI