CAB protest: Police open fire on protesters in Golaghat; Assam CM appeals for peace, harmony

22:50 December 14

Assam CM appeals for peace, harmony in state

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony with regard to protest against the Citizenship Act.

"I appeal to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony, and work towards the same," Sonowal said.

He said that he has discussed the present situation in Assam in a meeting with cabinet colleagues, union minister Rameshwar Teli, MPs, MLAs and BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass in Guwahati earlier today.
 

22:12 December 14

UGC NET postponed today due to unrest in Assam, Meghalaya

The UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for candidates scheduled to appear in Assam and Meghalaya was postponed today due to unrest in the region.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the test, announced that the exam in other states will be held on Sunday as per the schedule.

21:27 December 14

Police open fire on protesters in Golaghat Assam

Police, reportedly, opened fire on protesters in Sarupathar of Golaghat district.

Police had fired three rounds in the air to disperse the agitating crowd.

Golaghat SP and other senior police officers were also present at the spot. 

20:03 December 14

Situation getting normal in Assam: State DGP BJ Mahanta
 

Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that the situation in the state is slowly returning to normalcy.

"The situation is much better now. In fact, it is getting normal. We had imposed curfew in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. It has been relaxed in Guwahati city today. In the last few days, we have arrested more than 100 people. We have released some persons who had just participated in the protest and not engaged in lawlessness," Mahanta told reporters.
 

19:26 December 14

Assam govt employees association to cease work on Dec 18

Assam Government Employees' Association announced that they would cease work on December 18 to protest against amended Citizenship Act.

19:18 December 14

Normalcy returning to Tripura as markets reopen 

After continuous protest over Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Tripura is gradually returning to normalcy as shops and markets opened on Saturday and people were seen shopping at local markets.

"From the last three days, due to strike, no vehicles including those used for bringing vegetables could enter Agartala. Now the strike has been withdrawn, the movement of vehicles has resumed and the price of the commodities is normal so customers are happy," a shopkeeper Shib Sankar told reporters.
 

17:48 December 14

Internet services suspended in Assam till Dec 16

Internet services have been suspended across Assam till December 16, said officials.

Earlier, suspension of internet services in ten districts of Assam was extended for 48 hours on Thursday, beginning 12 pm, to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquillity, and to maintain law and order, officials said.

14:15 December 14

Rush in Guwahati markets, petrol pumps, ATMs after relaxation in curfew

With the government lifting the curfew from 9 am to 4 pm in Guwahati today after a period of three days, ETV Bharat spoke to the general public out on the streets, some queuing at petrol pumps, some busy purchasing essentials. 

14:04 December 14

An Oil tanker has been burnt down in the early hours on Saturday near Orang National Highway. According to reports, miscreants attacked the tanker and the driver also died in the incident. The tanker was on its wat to Numaligarh refinery.

Police investigations underway. 

10:26 December 14

Curfew relaxed from 8 am to 2 pm in Dibrugarh, Assam.  

09:15 December 14

Naga Student's Body Calls for Six-hour Bandh today

The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) has called a 6-hour bandh on Saturday to protest against the amended Citizenship Act. The bandh will begin at 6am. "Pursuant to the resolution adopted in the Emergency Executive Council Meeting of NSF, held on Friday at the Federation's Headquarter, it was unanimously decided to call for a six-hour total bandh in all the Naga inhibited areas, starting from 6am to 12 noon on December 14," a NSF statement said.

"The bandh has been called to express the resentment of the Naga people against the passing of the contentious CAB in the Parliament, much against the interests and the sentiments of the Indigenous people in the North East states," the statement said.

The NSF directed all its federating units and subordinate bodies in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland to take up all necessary measures to ensure that the total bandh is carried out successfully in their respective jurisdictions.

However, NSF said students appearing for examination, healthcare professionals on duty, media personnel and marriage parties, provided the wedding card is produced, will be exempted from the proposed total bandh.

09:14 December 14

Long queues were seen outside shops at several places, including Dispur, Uzan Bazar, Chandmari, Silpukhuri and Zoo Road. Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws were plying across the city. However, buses were off roads.

Petrol pumps in the city have also opened with vehicles waiting in lines to refuel. Police are using loudspeakers to inform the public about the relaxation. Schools and offices, however, remains shut. 

08:08 December 14

CAB protest: Internet services suspended in Assam till Dec 16

New Delhi:Curfew has been relaxed from 9 am to 4 pm in Guwahati today amidst ongoing protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which gives Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Earlier, indefinite curfew which was in force in Dibrugarh municipal area was relaxed for 5 hours on Friday even as large number of people gathered in Chandmari area of Guwahati to observe a fast called by the AASU to protest against the act.

The Army and the security forces were conducting flag marches in Guwahati town which was the epicentre of the protests, besides Dibrugarh and Tezpur.

A large number of people, including artists, singers and filmstars are observing a 10-hour fast called by the influential students' organisation against the Citizenship Act from 6 am.

On Thursday two persons were killed in police firing and thousands descended on streets defying curfew as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed his government was committed to safeguarding their rights.

According to the Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship

Read: CAB Protests: AASU calls three-day mass satyagraha