Curfew imposed in Guwahati; Internet suspended in 10 districts for 24 hrs
The curfew, which was imposed on Wednesday in Assam's Guwahati, has been extended till indefinite period amid violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, a senior police official said.
The curfew, which was imposed on Wednesday (December 11) in Assam’s Guwahati, has been extended till indefinite period amid violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, a senior police official said.
The curfew, which was imposed at 6.15 pm, has been extended till indefinite period, Assam Police Additional Director General (Law and Order) Mukesh Agrawal said.
Internet services will be suspended in ten districts of Assam for 24 hours, beginning 7 pm on Wednesday, state government officials said, amid massive protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
They said internet services will be suspended to prevent misuse of social media in disturbing peace and tranquility, and to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was stuck at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport here for some time on Wednesday amidst large scale protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the streets of the city. Sources in the chief minister’s office confirmed that Sonowal was stuck at the airport after he returned from Tezpur in a helicopter.
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Internet services will be suspended in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup, according to a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political Department) Kumar Sanjay Krishna.
Internet will be suspended as “social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube etc are likely to be used for spreading of rumours and also for transmission of information like pictures, videos and texts that have the potential to inflame passions and does exacerbate the law and order situation,” the notification said.
It further stated that there have been protests in different parts of the state and there are probabilities of intensifying such protests which may adversely affect the law and order situation.
(With PTI inputs)