Anti-CAB protests: Army forces deployed;internet to be suspended in Assam

Army forces have been deployed in Assam and Tripura to combat the violent protesters across various Northeastern states against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Internet services in 10 districts of Assam to be suspended for 24 hours, beginning from 7 pm tonight.

So far, three Army Columns have been requisitioned by civil administration in Tripura and Assam. Two columns have been deployed in Tripura and and third is on standby in Assam.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Assam today and fought with the police, making the state go into a chaos. Such violence was unseen in the state of Assam since the violent 6-year movement by students that ended with the signing of the Assam accord. Protesters even pelted stones at fire service vehicles in Guwahati. Assam secretariat employees gathered at the main gate to support the agitating students against Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Though no party or student body has called a shutdown, protesters, a majority of them students, fought battles with security forces in the restive state, including in front of the secretariat, the seat of the BJP government. Police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters, who fought back.

Due to the protests, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was stranded at the Guwahati airport for about 20 minutes after his return from Tezpur following protests outside the airport. His convoy wasn't taken out due to security concerns as protesters lay siege on the road leading to his official residence. Later it was cleared and the convoy left.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is being hotly debated in the Rajya Sabha after its passage by the Lok Sabha on Monday.