City
Epaper

Assam on the boil, curfew imposed, mobile internet suspended (2nd Lead)

By IANS | Updated: December 11, 2019 21:45 IST

Assam was rocked by violence against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), which was passed by the Rajya Sabha by 125-105 votes on Wednesday, as protesters hit the streets in thousands, burning tyres and wooden logs, prompting the administration to impose curfew in Guwahati and suspend mobile internet services in 10 districts of the state.

Open in App

The army undertook a flag march in Dibrugarh. The controversial Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha at the stroke of midnight on Monday.

On a day when lawmakers debated the CAB in the Rajya Sabha, Assam was on the boil, with protesters raising slogans against the Central and state government, and demanding unconditional withdrawal of the legislation.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal remained stuck at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport here for hours after landing in the state capital from Tezpur, as his convoy could not roll out due to the massive protests.

The administration tried to tackle the situation by imposing curfew from 6-15 p.m. The curfew will continue till 7 a.m. on Thursday, a senior police officer said.

Mobile internet services were suspended in 10 troubled districts Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup districts for 24 hours to thwart any effort to spread rumours and misinformation, while a column of army was kept on standby in Bongaigaon town.

The protests, which had started days back, intensified during the day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled the legislation in the Upper House of the Parliament.

The protesters tried to march towards the state secretariat here and burnt tyres on the roads, creating a volatile situation, as the police tried to control the unrest by firing rubber bullets and lobbing tear gas shells.

At least 25 protesters among them several students sustained injuries in police lathi charge in the state.

At least 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: DibrugarhLok SabhaAssam
Open in App

Related Stories

EntertainmentActor Rohit Basfore of Family Man 3 Fame Found Dead In Guwahati Forest Under Mysterious Circumstances

National'Watershed Moment': PM Narendra Modi Louds Parliament for Passage of Waqf Amendment Bill

NationalWhat is Connection Between Waqf Bill and Hindutva? Shiv Sena UBT Leader Sanjay Raut On Waqf Amendment Bill

NationalAkhilesh Yadav Slams Waqf Amendment Bill, Says ‘Sold Railways, Defense Land and Now Waqf Land Will Be Sold’

National'Opposition Are Trying To Mislead People': Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde On Waqf Amendment Bill (Watch Video)

National Realted Stories

NationalIndia has 'legitimate right' to act in self-defence against Pakistan: Former US NSA

NationalAfter banning imports, India now bars Pakistani ships from entering its ports

NationalPM Modi, Angolan Prez Lourenco discuss deepening ties, Global South collaboration

NationalMamata Banerjee will get zero in 2026 polls, says Amit Malviya

NationalGoa govt cancels public celebrations following tragic stampede at Shree Devi Lairai Zatra