GUWAHATI: Taking a strong note of the 23rd October Assam Bandh called by 46 organisations, the state government has issued strong instructions, making it mandatory for its employees to attend offices.
Action will be taken against state government employees who will be found missing during the bandh day.
The government has also issued an order, whereby, trade licences of businesses may be cancelled if found supporting the bandh. The government has directed the Superintendents of Police and the Deputy Commissioners to inform the trade and business fraternity in their respective districts of the same. Also, the police and district administrations have been ordered to ensure adequate security arrangements to protect the business establishments.
For maintaining law and order and protecting the rights of the common citizens, all the police stations and offices of the deputy commissioners throughout the state have been alerted.
All bandh protesters will be arrested and any damage of public or government properties will be borne by the organisations calling for the bandh, stated the government note.
The state government has taken a leaf from a 1998 ruling by a three-judge bench, headed by then Chief Justice of India JS Verma, that upheld a Kerala High Court ruling, banning illegal political bandhs.
