CAB Protests: AASU calls three-day mass satyagraha

03:56 December 14

AASU calls three-day mass satyagraha against CAA

The All Assam Students Union (AASU), which is spearheading the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, on Friday called a three-day mass satyagraha in all district headquarters of the state from December 16.

Announcing the fresh agitation programme, AASU Chief Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya coined the slogan "Repeal Citizenship Amendment Act or arrest me".

Bhattacharya said padyatra and protest meetings would be organised across the state and posters would put up against the controversial law.

"Everybody will join the movement. Women will blow the conchshell demanding the withdrawal of the Act," he said.

03:53 December 14

Special trains to help stranded passengers at Guwahati

Special passenger trains are being run to help stranded passengers at Guwahati to reach their destinations in Upper Assam, said Northeast Frontier Railway, Chief Public Relation Officer.

On Thursday one train was operated to Dimapur and one each to Furkating and Dibrugarh on Friday.
 

02:02 December 14

Bangladesh cancels ministers' India trips due to anti-CAA protests

Bangladesh has demanded heightened security for its mission in India's Assam state capital Guwahati following two subsequent attacks, and cancelled two ministers' trips to India amid violent protests there over a contentious citizenship bill.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday summoned Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das and protested against the attack on the convoy of Bangladeshi assistant high commissioner and vandalism of the Bangladesh mission in Guwahati.

The statement said Bangladesh, however, "believes that the attack on the convoy of the Assistant High Commissioner and vandalization of the signposts is a one-off incident and it will not affect the excellent bilateral relations that Bangladesh and India enjoy."
 

20:53 December 13

8 columns of the Army, AR deployed in Assam

A total of eight columns of the Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed in Assam, including capital Guwahati to control the ongoing violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill and the amended Citizenship Act.

Defence Public Relation Officer Lt Col P Khongsai said the Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned by the civil administration in Morigaon, Sonitpur and Dibrugarh districts besides Guwahati to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation.

The Army was called out on Wednesday as the protestors turned violent over the Bill.

19:00 December 13

Situation improving in Guwahati

The situation in Guwahati is improving. Public transport remains hindered.

17:58 December 13

106 passengers trains cancelled by Northeast Frontier Railway

In view of disruptions in train movement following protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the Northeast Frontier Railways has cancelled and short-terminated around 106 passenger trains.

17:57 December 13

Metro stations reopened; normal services resume at all stations: DMRC

The Patel Chowk and Janpath Metro stations have been reopened and normal services have resumed at all stations, said DMRC officials.

The entry and exit gates at both the stations were closed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation due to students' protest against Citizenship Amendment Act.

16:24 December 13

Shah's Shillong visit put off, train services hit in Assam

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Shillong on December 15 to attend a function in North-Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), has been postponed in view of the 'law and order situation in the region' following agitation against the new citizenship law, officials said on Friday.

"The Union Home Minister was supposed to visit NEPA to attend the passing-out parade of the trained police personnel. But in view of the law and order situation in the northeastern region, especially n Assam, his visit was postponed," a top official of NEPA said.

The official said the passing out parade of the last batch of trained police personnel is also postponed. "We would fix up the new schedule in consultation with the Union Home Ministry," said the official.

The NEPA, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was set up in July 1978 in Ri-Bhoi District in northern Meghalaya to provide training to the police officers and different categories of policemen of the northeastern states.

In view of the violent agitations, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), which operates trains in some parts of Bihar and West Bengal besides in entire northeastern region, either cancelled or rescheduled as many as 43 trains, including Rajdhani Express, on Friday.

15:48 December 13

Long queues at Guwahati markets as locals rush to stock up essentials

Worried that CAB protests may hit supplies, people in Assam and Nagaland are rushing to hoard essential items. 

15:18 December 13

Another person succumbs to his injuries from Dibrugarh's protest

The deceased, identified as Bijendra was one among the many who demonstrated a protest in Dibrugarh on Thursday. 

14:58 December 13

Peace Party filed a writ petition against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Supreme Court. 
 

12:41 December 13

19 injured protesters are still admitted in GMCH, one of them is in critical condition. 

At least three persons and 12 injured died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Assam's Guwahati.

An official of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital told media that one person was "brought dead" and another succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

09:16 December 13

Assam: Curfew relaxed in Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh:The 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 Citizenship Act.

In Dibrugarh municipal area the indefinite curfew was relaxed from 8 am, officials said.

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.

AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the protests will continue.

"We will not succumb to any pressure and our agitation will continue," he said.

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.

Several towns and cities were placed under indefinite curfew, including Guwahati, the epicentre of protests, besides Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Dhekiajuli. Night curfew was imposed in Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinsukia and Charaideo districts, officials said.

Internet services in 10 districts were suspended for another 48 hours beginning 12 pm of Thursday to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquility, and to maintain law and order, officials said.

The state government had removed the Guwahati Police commissioner Deepak Kumar and appointed Munna Prasad Gupta in his place on Thursday.

Additional director general of police (law and order) Mukesh Agarwal was also transferred and replaced by ADGP (CID) GP Singh.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday gave his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.

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.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and by Lok Sabha on Monday.

READ: Pakistani migrants in Haryana rejoice passage of CAB