Citizenship Bill: Violent protests continue in Assam, police detain 1000 protesters
Guwahati/IBNS: Violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill continued in Assam’s capital city Guwahati on Wednesday and several protesters-police clash incidents were reported from various parts.
Several protesters, police personnel were injured during the clashes and many vehicles including a fire service one were damaged after protesters pelted stones targeting the security personnel.
According to the reports, several thousands of general people, students have come out on the streets and moved towards Dispur to gherao Assam Secretariat (Janata Bhawan) by breaking down the police barricade to protest against the bill.
The protesters also burnt the government hoardings on the GS road.
As the protesters tried to enter the Assam Secretariat premises, the police resorted to lathi-charge and firing of tear gas shells on the protesters.
Following the act, angry protesters even tried to attack the police personnel by pelting stones and also attacked a few vehicles including a fire service vehicle.
Several protesters and police personnel were injured in the incident.
The situation still remains tensed at Dispur area.
Apart from Dispur, the protesters have also blocked several roads in the city by burning tyres, government hoardings, other items at Down Town, Sixmile, Beltola, Basistha, Ganeshguri, Jalukbari, Maligaon area in the city.
Meanwhile, Assam police have detained over 1000 protesters across the state.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, now awaiting the nod in the Rajya Sabha, will grant citizenship to all non-Muslim refugees who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on or before Dec 31, 2014.
The bill has courted controversy as several opposition parties claim that the CAB violates Article 14- which provides the right to equality- of the Constitution.
The CAB was passed in Lok Sabha with the support of 311 members while 80 MPs opposed it.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
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