Tribals call off bandh

SILCHAR, Aug 16: The Hailakandi District Tribal Sangha, an organization of the Reang tribes, had called off its 12-hour bandh call on August 18, following Excise Minister Gautam Roy’s assurance that the miscreants involved in the manhandling case of Reang leader Panchuram Reang in Ramkrishnanagar, would seek an open apology to the latter. Various tribal organizations had jointly declared the bandh in protest against the alleged police inactivity against the miscreants who had beaten up Panchuram and his friend Tayuubur Rahman in Ramkrishnanagar on the grounds that they were taking photographs of girl students with their mobile phones. Panchuram headed a militant outfit in southern Hailakandi and had surrendered last year. Later he joined the Congress party. He is the vice-president of the tribal cell of Hailakandi Congress. Excise Minister Gautam Roy met the tribal leaders yesterday and assured them that those who had beaten up the Reang leader would be compelled to seek apology. Following the Minister’s assurance, the organization called off their agitation THE SENTINEL