NE NEWS SERVICE
AGARTALA, DEC 10
Sporadic violence and protests marred the 11-hour shutdown against the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in North Eastern States. The protesters even confronted with the police in few places.
Many people, including security personnel, sustained injuries, as protesters damaged vehicles and shops in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya capital Shillong.
In Tripura, the government ordered suspension of internet and SMS services for two days as paramilitary personnel opened fire in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse violent anti-CAB protesters in some areas.
The protests led by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) were most intense across the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam and Tripura, two States perceived to bear the brunt of migrants from Bangladesh who could be made citizens through the CAB, if it becomes a law.
The anger against the CAB move had been brewing over a week, affecting normal life and local businesses in Assam and Tripura. On Tuesday, they snowballed into a spontaneous movement with local residents, including senior citizens, spilling on to the streets. Elsewhere, the protestors in Assam blocked the movement of trains and vehicular traffic forcing the cancellation of some trains.
Large number of people laid siege to strategic areas chanting anti-BJP and anti-government slogans and burning tyres in Guwahati. Some tried to march to Dispur, but were prevented.
Many staged protests outside the houses of the MLAs of the ruling BJP and Asom Gana Parishad with mobs attacking or damaging the offices of these political parties in some semi-urban areas.
Apart from writers and intellectuals, some film personalities and singers too hit the streets and decided against taking part in any government functions. They also called for the boycott of the Indo-Japan summit in the city from December 15-17 to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
