Three protesters were killed and many others injured in police firing in Assam’s Guwahati amid a raging agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred even as thousands of protesters descended on the streets in defiance of a curfew imposed on the city after the parliament cleared the contentious legislation on Wednesday night.
Earlier today, the government had extended the suspension of Internet services in 10 districts of Assam for another 48 hours, and deployed army personnel in four areas where clashes between protesters and police were witnessed.
The residences of several politicians, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister Rameswar Teli, were attacked by protesters as violence continued unabated.
The suspension of Internet services in 10 districts of Assam was extended for another 48 hours, starting Thursday noon. Guwahati and Dibrugarh were placed under indefinite curfew even as protesters targeted the homes of Sarbananda Sonowal, Rameswar Teli and BJP MLA Binanda Hazarika.
Reports suggested that while the initial agitation held by student groups was peaceful, it turned violent after angry mobs joined in.
Five columns of the army — each comprising 70 personnel — have been deployed in Assam
Two of the army columns deployed in Guwahati have carried out flag marches, news agency PTI quoted a senior officer as saying.
Army personnel have also been deployed in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Jorhat districts, the news agency reported.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Monday, with 334 MPs supporting it in a house where the government enjoys brute majority. Although the ruling BJP does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, it managed to push the bill through with the help of regional parties such as the Biju Janata Dal and Telugu Desam Party.
PTI
