Guwahati shops down shutters, rallies taken out to condemn Pulwama attack

GUWAHATI/DIBRUGArh: Business establishments downed shutters in various parts of the city on Saturday in protest against the deadly militant attack on a CRPF convoy at Pulwana in which 40 jawans were martyred.
In Fancy Bazar, the city’s commercial hub, traders burnt tyres on the streets and accused Pakistan of fuelling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In the evening, they took out a protest rally in the Paltan Bazar area of the city and raised slogans against terrorism.The shutdown was total in Fancy Bazar, Pan Bazar, Athgaon and Machkhowa areas.
In Dibrugarh, several educational institutions, students and teachers paid homage to the martyrs. Students of Manohari Devi Kanoi Girls’ College, Dibrugarh, held a condolence prayer in memory of the martyrs. In the evening, a candlelight procession was taken out jointly by several organisations and locals across the town. They later converged on the Thana Chariali area of the town and paid floral tributes to the martyrs. Effigies of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan were also burnt in various parts of the state.
“Today, we warn the sympathizers of Pakistan and China. It’s a strong warning to them. Don’t back terrorist activities sponsored by Pakistan, which in no way will reform,” said general secretary of All Guwahati Traders’ Association (AGTA) Prantosh Roy. He added, “One chowkidar is not enough. At this hour of grief, every patriotic Indian must resolve that they will stay vigilant to protect their motherland at any cost.”
Peace rallies were taken out and people lighted candles in public places in memory of the jawans. A bike rally was taken out near Tezpur.
Under the aegis of AGTA, a candlelight procession was taken out through the busy streets of Paltan Bazar. Slogans of “Pakistan murdabad” rented the air as the body of CRPF head constable Maneswar Basumatary, killed in the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama, arrived at the Guwahati airport in the evening. Basumatary hailed from the Tamulpur area in lower Assam’s Baksa district.