Normal life across Assam has been affected in view of an 11-hour bandh called by North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), an umbrella body of students’ body of Northeast region, including the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
The bandh has been supported by various other political as well as apolitical organisations.
Protestors blocked national highways and other roads by burning tyres at many places in the region, including Guwahati, in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Picketers squatted on railway tracks at several railway stations, affecting train movement.
Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported as bandh supporters damaged vehicles and engaged in a tussle with police and security personnel at different places.
The main city Guwahati was also affected by the bandh as CAB protestors blocked several roads in the city and took out processions.
Reports of protests and band also came from Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
The Northeast region has been opposing the CAB, which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities from select neighbouring countries, claiming that it will change the demographic pattern of the state as well as the NE region.
The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 9 midnight and is scheduled to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 11.
