Guwahat, Saturday 01 November 2008: Protesters torched vehicles, blocked railway tracks and roads and burnt effigies as a day-long bandh called by BJP and other saffron outfits to protest against the serial hit normal life in Assam on Saturday.

All markets, shops, offices as well as educational and financial institutions remained closed with public and private vehicles remaining off the roads owning to the strike that coincided with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Though the state secretariat and the district deputy commissioner offices were open, attendance was thin with most employees unable to reach their work places, official sources said.

Hundreds of protesters were rounded up for attempting to block railway tracks, national highways and roads.