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Bandh against killings paralyses Assam: AFP

A dawn-to-dusk general strike to protest against a spate of killings by separatist rebels paralysed normal life in Assam on Monday.

Most shops and businesses, as well as schools and colleges remained closed in the capital, Guwahati, and across the rest of Assam.

"Normal life has come to a standstill, with no trains or vehicles on the roads," a police spokesman said.

The strike was called by the All Assam Students' Union which has an estimated three million supporters.

At least 120 people, most of them Hindi-speaking Marwaris from Rajasthan and Biharis, have been killed in a string of militant attacks over the past two-months. More than 50 people have been wounded in the attacks.

"We want the militants to stop the killings immediately and today's strike is a mark of protest against the perpetrators of violence," AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said. "We want to demonstrate that the common people are against all forms of killings and bloodshed."

"The government on its part should consider extending a unilateral ceasefire so as to build up an atmosphere for holding peace talks with the rebels".

There has been a series of protests over the past week across Assam against the continuing violence by armed militants.

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