AGENCIES
Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill have intensified in Assam, Tripura and some other North Indian state.
Hundreds of students gathered in Guwahati to raise their voice against the act. Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Guwahati city. Protesters also set on fire vehicles at Guwahati.
Traffic was badly affected due to the protest and police restored to lathi-charge and also used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was among those stuck at the Guwahati Airport on Wednesday amid massive protests over the CAB that was passed by the Rajya Sabha two days after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha. Mr Sonowal’s security detail, however, managed to take the Chief Minister to his residence through the city, parts of which resembled a warzone.
Though no party or student body has called a shutdown against the bill that will fast-track citizenship claims for immigrants from three neighbouring countries – but not if they are Muslim, protesters fought pitched battles with security forces, including in front of the secretariat, the seat of the BJP government. Two columns or about 150 personnel of the army have been asked to remain on standby, a news agency reported.
Police fired blank shots, tear gas shells and lathi-charged protesters, a majority of them students, in different parts of Guwahati, Assam biggest city, as several thousand demonstrators attempted to barge past security barriers to converge on the adjoining state capital Dispur. According to student leaders, many protesters were injured in police action in front of the secretariat. Several vehicles were set on fire.
The AASU protesters also staged a demonstration in front of the NF Railway headquarters at Maligaon where a section of employees were reportedly at work.
Although the bandh was called from 5 am to 4 pm, the protest went beyond the stipulated time and things virtually went out of control at many locations where the police and civil administration had a tough time in controlling the situation.
Irate protesters were also seen scuffling with security personnel who resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters, leaving several injured. In Guwahati, anti-CAB protesters tried to enter the MLA Hostel and Janata Bhawan premises that led to a series of altercation with security forces.
Similar scenes were witnessed across the length and breadth of the State with groups of protesters, led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), even gheraoing residences of political leaders belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
Nearly a thousand anti-CAB protesters were arrested by police during the bandh period across the State.
In Guwahati, members of the AASU burnt the effigy of Guwahati MP Queen Ojha inside the campus of her residence. On the GS Road, agitating crowd restricted the movement of the acting DGP’s vehicle besides several other BJP leaders.
Addressing the gathering in front of the Swahid Nyas Bhawan, NESO adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the BJP-led government is trying to impose legislation which is detrimental to the interest of the indigenous people, which is an act of betrayal to the martyrs of the Assam Agitation.
In Tripura, the State Administration has shut down internet service for 48 hours since yesterday evening for maintaining the law and order situation.
As many as 40 persons were injured when bandh supporters clashed with security personnel at three places in Tripura today during the 11-hour bandh called against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by the NESO.
The security forces had to resort to blank firing to disperse unruly bandh supporters at Bishramganj in Sepahijala district and Kanchanpur in North Tripura district. Prohibitory orders have been clamped at Manughat Bazar in Dhalai district after picketers set the market on fire.
As the situation continues to remain grim, the State Government suspended the Internet service for the next 48 hours at 2 pm, but the order has not been implemented yet. Hundreds of villagers of Anandabazar area had to take shelter in the Ananada Bazar police station as bandh supporters attacked them. “One TSR commandant and five jawans were injured in a clash at Ananda Bazar area. Besides, 15 villagers also suffered injuries,” said the SDM of Kanchapur Abhedananda Baidya over telephone.
SHILLONG: The bandh called by the NESO totally paralysed normal life in Meghalaya. Stray incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the State capital.
Shops and business establishments, educational institutions and offices remained closed with little or attendance. The roads were deserted as vehicles remained off the streets in the State capital.
Several parked vehicles were damaged in incidents of stone pelting and arson reported from various parts of the State capital. A police vehicle was also torched close to Mawlai. But, there has been no loss of life in these incidents.
State police and paramilitary forces remained on high alert at different parts of the State capital.
In the evening, a rally opposing the CAB was also taken out at Mothpran area. The protesters demanded implementation of the inner line permit system.