India, Feb. 14 -- The indefinite bandh in Digboi entered its third straight day on Friday. The shutdown has brought the historic oil town to a grinding standstill. It has also exposed what many residents describe as a troubling vacuum of governance.

With shutters down across commercial establishments, fear and uncertainty continue to grip the town.

Sections of Adivasi organisations reportedly warned traders not to open their shops until justice is delivered in the Budheswar (Bhudesar) Gorh case. As a result, traders have chosen caution over confrontation.

The death of suspected fish thief Budheswar Gorh at Charali Bazar triggered the unrest. However, the blanket shutdown of the entire town has raised serious questions about proportion...