DEMAND FOR SEPARATE STATES

Karbi Anglong slowly limping back to normalcy

A 48-hour bandh called by All Bodo Students' Union(ABSU), a 1500-hour bandh by United Peoples' Democratic Forum (UPDF) and a 31-hour bandh by All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU) brought life to a standstill in lower Assam districts of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Baksa, Dhubri and Goalpara, official sources said.

Train services were, however, not affected on Tuesday with all trains originating from Guwahati or entering Assam running as per schedule. But trains originating from Dibrugarh, including Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express, Kamrup Express, Saraighat Express and Brahmaputra Mail among others were running late due to the prevailing situation in Karbi Anglong.

Bangalore (PTI): Former Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde has warned creation of more States is bound to threaten the unity of India and deal a body blow to the country's diversity. Hegde, a key member of Team Anna, said formation of Telangana would spawn demand for statehood in some other parts of India, noting movements among others in Vidarbha and Assam, and BSP supremo Mayawati pushing for dividing Uttar Pradesh into four.

Protests for 2 states in Meghalaya

The demonstration is being organised by the Garo Hills State Movement Committee, a conglomeration of various pressure groups and political groups. The GNC and the Hills State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) have been demanding separate states for the Garo and Khasi-Jaintia tribes respectively for over two decades. In view of the agitation, security has been tightened to prevent any untoward incident in all the five districts, police said.