- All Assam Student Union, North East Student Organization and Left organizations announced bandh
- Shops of non-tribals were burnt in Dhalai district of Tripura, police deployed additional force for security
- Banks, educational and business institutions remained closed in Arunachal, petrol bombs were hurled on police vehicles in Meghalaya.
The bandh was announced by student organizations and left parties in the North East states in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha. In Assam, Tripura and Arunachal, its impact was seen on common life. In Dibrugarh and Jorhat in Assam, people opposing the bill opened fire. All the exams to be held here on Tuesday were postponed. Similarly, markets and roads in Arunachal were closed due to the bandh. Internet was banned for 48 hours in view of the protests in Tripura.
Apart from All Assam Student Union and North East Student Organization, 16 Left organizations had called for a bandh. These people say that the citizenship amendment bill is biased. Apart from the identity of the people of the North East, it is endangering social and cultural fabrication.
Train services also affected in Assam, protesters clashed with police
Protesters also clashed with police near the Assembly and Secretariat in Guwahati. Police were blocking the protesters from moving forward. Protesters clashed with CIASF in Dibrugarh. The protesters also demonstrated on the railway line, due to which train services were also affected.
Market closed in Tripura, roads deserted
Shops and roads were not crowded in Tripura. Most markets were closed. Protesters set fire to some shops in a market in Dhalai district here. It is being told that the owners of these shops were non-tribal. Apart from this, there were incidents of arson in some other places also. Police said the security arrangements in the markets have been increased, but non-tribal shopkeepers are scared of arson incidents. Train services were affected throughout Tripura.
Incidents of arson in Meghalaya
Educational institutions, banks and business institutions remained closed in Arunachal Pradesh. Only government vehicles appeared on the roads. A bandh was called by All Arunachal Pradesh Student Union here. The number of employees in government offices also remained negligible. In addition, arson incidents were reported in Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong. Petrol bombs were hurled at police vehicles in East Khasi Hills district. Additional troops of CRPF have been deployed in sensitive areas.
The purpose of the bill is to give citizenship to minority refugees from 3 countries
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 provides non-Muslim refugees the opportunity of citizenship of India. In this, people facing any religious oppression in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan can apply. After five years in India, those people will be given citizenship of India. According to the current rules, this citizenship was being given after 11 years. The bill passed in the Lok Sabha at midnight on Monday.