Guwahati, May 23 - Normal life has been paralysed in Lower Assam districts following a 48-hour Assam Bandh called today by All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU) to protest against yesterday's police action against their leaders and activists.

AKRSU had called a 12-hr National Highway Blockade yesterday but a clash followed with the police when the latter urged them to lift the blockade.

Several senior leaders and activists were taken into preventive custody and the students' body called the bandh from 6 a.m today to protest against the incident.

All shops, business and commercial establishments, educational and financial institutions remained closed and vehicular traffic remained off the road in most Lower Assam districts including Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Chirang.

There were, however, no report of any untoward incidents from any part of the state. AKRSU had called the 12-hr National Highway Blockade today to demand a separate Kamtapur state and Scheduled Tribe status for the Koch-Rajbongshis. PTI