Rebel shutdown hits Indian state

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

A separatist group in India's troubled north-east has enforced a dawn-to-dusk strike across the state of Assam.

The 12-hour strike was called by the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) to protest against the arrest of two of their top leaders in Bangladesh.

Shops and markets closed down, public transport was affected, school and college attendance was reduced, but government offices worked normally.

Police and paramilitary troops were deployed across Assam on Monday.

"The Ulfa is considerably weakened now, but we are taking no chances," Assam's senior police officer, Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, said.

The two rebel leaders, Chitrabon Hazarika and Sasadhar Chaoudhary, were arrested by police in Bangladesh last week and handed to India's Border Security Force.

Dhaka denies it has arrested the rebels, but Bangladesh has detained Ulfa leaders in the past.

"We want them produced before the media and then they should be released," an Ulfa statement said.

Both men appeared at a court in Assam's capital, Guwahati, at the weekend and were remanded in police custody for 10 days.