New Delhi: In view of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Assam government has decided to suspend internet services in several districts of the state from 7 pm on Wednesday to 7 pm on Thursday, saying social media platforms could be used to spread rumours or spread information that could “exacerbate the law and order situation”.
In an order issued by additional chief secretary of the home department Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the government said that in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup districts, internet services would be suspended for 24 hours from 7 pm on Wednesday.
Assam has been witnessing protests, which have turned violent in several places, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday night and is being discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Protests have also erupted in other parts of the Northeast. Beginning at 2 pm on Tuesday, internet services in Tripura for 48 hours.
Also Read: Assam BJP Tries to Quell Anti-Citizenship Amendment Bill Protests Using Social Media
The order says that “there are probabilities of intensifying such protests which may adverse the Law & Order situation in the State thereby public safety”. It added that reports on electronic media show that the protestors are involved in vandalism which is likely to spread and create “serious law and order situation”.
“Whereas social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube etc. are likely to be used for spreading of rumours and also for information like pictures, videos and text that have the potential to inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation,” the order reads.
Copy of the order declaring suspension of internet services in Assam.
Assam chief minister stuck at airport
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal was stuck for several hours at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport for several hours amid the ongoing protests against the Bill, according to reports.
After arriving from Tezpur, Sonowal was forced to wait in the VIP lounge of the airport in Guwahati as his convoy could not leave due to protests.
Sonowal has been accused by the anti-CAB protesters of staying “silent” over the contentious Bill.
Army deployed, several thousands detained
The Centre has decided to deploy the Army in Assam and Tripura to contain the protests against the Bill. According to reports, while two Army columns were deployed in Assam one has been deployed in Tripura. One column consists of 70 Army personnel across ranks.
Additionally, the Centre has also airlifted 5,000 paramilitary personnel to the two states to maintain the law and order situation. Reports suggest that 20 companies or 2,000 personnel have been removed from Jammu and Kashmir, where they were deployed in the aftermath of the dilution of Article 370, to the Northeast.
Assam: Bus torched by protesters, near Janta Bhawan in Dispur, against #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 pic.twitter.com/yUAkYPjWtk
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
To contain the protests, more than a thousand people have been detained. According to the Times of India, police lathicharged protestors in several areas and also fired teargas shells.
The protests also resulted in the suspension of train services.