Protests Mount Against Citizenship Amendment Act, 1 Killed in Assam

Guwahati/Shillong/Kohima/Kolkata: Protests against the amended Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued on Saturday in North East, West Bengal, Delhi and Mumbai. In Assam, which saw several incidents of violence, one person was killed.

Meanwhile, several foreign countries, such as the US, the UK, Israel, Singapore among others have issued travel advisories to their citizens in the wake of mounting protests against CAA in the North East.

In Delhi, Jantar Mantar saw a massive protest against CAA.

People from all walks of life came out in solidarity with those opposing the new law.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed entry and exit gates at Janpath metro station in view of the protest.

Nagaland observed a six-hour shutdown against the legislation.

In West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress government has been opposing the CAA, arson was reported from various areas.

Buses, a railway station, a toll plaza in Muslim-dominated Murshidabad were set on fire by protestors, officials said.

In Assam, state government employees announced that they will go for cease work on December 18 in protest against CAA.

Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) President Basab Kalita told PTI that all employees of the state government across Assam will not attend offices on December 18.

"We have opposed the Bill since the beginning and will continue to do so till the Act is revoked," he said.

Meanhwile, the toll in the large-scale protests in the state against the Act rose to three as suspected miscreants set ablaze an oil tanker at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district, killing its driver during curfew on Friday late night.

Two others had been killed during the violent protests against CAA in Guwahati earlier this week.

Schools and offices in Guwahati, however, remained shut, official sources said.

Suspension of internet services across Assam was extended for 48 hours till December 16 to prevent misuse of social media in disturbing peace and to maintain law and order in the state, additional chief secretary (home and political department) Sanjay Krishna said.

The All Assam Sudents Union, which is spearheading the agitation, kept up its protest meetings along with Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and 30 other indigenous organisations in the Brahmaputra Valley.

Train services between Guwahati and the rest of the country was disrupted in a rail blockade called by the AJYCP, which is demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit in the state.

AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said protests will continue everyday till 5 pm as the students’ body follows Mahatma Gandhi's ideal of non-violence.

The Meghalaya government has decided to convene a special one-day session of the Assembly to bring in a resolution to implement the Inner Line Permit regime in the state.

In Nagaland, schools and colleges were closed, markets were shut and vehicles plied in fewer numbers during the six-hour shutdown since 6 am by Naga Students' Federation against the amended Citizenship Act, officials said.

In West Bengal, where violent protests against the citizenship legislation began on Friday, a portion of Sankrail railway station complex in Howrah district was set on fire on Saturday allegedly by a mob which also thrashed security personnel guarding it, officials said.

A few shops were also set on fire, police sources said.

In Patna, Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal has given call for a Bihar bandh on December 21 in protest against CAA, alleging that it has blown the Constitution to "smithereens".

In Mumbai, a group of city residents who hail from Assam staged a demonstration against CAA on Saturday at Azad Maidan.

The participants carried placards, banners and handbills with messages `Say No to CAB', 'We oppose CAA' and `Withdraw CAA, Save Assam'.

The contentious CAA provides for grant of citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who migrated to India before 2015 due to religious persecution.