Curfew relaxed in N-E, uneasy calm prevails

Guwahati/New Delhi/ Kolkata, December 13

Protests against the new citizenship law showed signs of ebbing away in Assam and elsewhere in the North-East on Friday with relaxation of curfew, but parts of neighbouring West Bengal were in throes of violence as protesters vandalised public property and clashed with police.

Curfew was relaxed in Assam’s Dibrugarh and Meghalaya capital Shillong, but the ripple effect of anger over the hugely divisive law was felt in West Bengal where Beldanga railway station complex was set ablaze in Murshidabad district and RPF personnel were assaulted.

After Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala, Madhya Pradesh also appeared set to reject the amended act, with Chief Minister Kamal Nath asserting in New Delhi that it was part of the Centre’s “politics of distractions” to deflect people’s attention from economic slowdown.

No violent incidents were reported from Guwahati, the hotbed of violent protests on Thursday, but peaceful protests were held by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and some other outfits. There were reports of police firing in air to disperse protesters in some places in Assam.

Fresh petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, including those by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and Trinamool Congress lawmaker Mahua Moitra, challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.

While normal life appeared getting back on track in the North-East, West Bengal singed with protests in Muslim-dominated areas of rural Howrah, Murshidabad, Birbhum, parts of Burdwan and North Bengal.

“Several parts of the station, kisoks of RPF and tracks were set on fire. Train services have come to a halt here,” a senior RPF official said after arson at Beldanga railway station. Officials said protesters ransacked Beldanga police station and set vehicles ablaze in Raghunathgaj police station area. — PTI