BFF-32 Life in Assam back on track as state remains peaceful

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BFF-32

GUWAHATI-CITIZENSHIP-SITUATION

Life in Assam back on track as state remains peaceful

GUWAHATI, Dec 19, 2019 (BSS/PTI) – Normal life is back on track in Assam
with the state remaining peaceful after several days of violent protests
against the new citizenship law.

The curfew imposed in Dibrugarh has been relaxed for 14 hours since 6 am
on Thursday but mobile internet services remained suspended, officials said.

The curfew imposed in Guwahati on December 11 was lifted on Tuesday
following improvement in law and order, they said. Businesses and banks in
Guwahati were open and vehicles plied the roads but schools and colleges were
closed.

Flight operations and railway services have resumed in Guwahati while
flights to and from Dibrugarh air ports were also operating as per schedule,
the officials said.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which is spearheading the
agitation against the amended Citizenship Act, has planned sit-ins on
December 21 and 23 and rallies on December 24, 26 and 28.

Islamic outfit Popular Front of India’s Assam unit chief Aminul Haque
and another office bearer were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged role
in the violence during protests over the citizenship law, police said.

Also, the Assam Human Rights Commission has directed the chief secretary
to constitute a high-level panel for probing deaths of five protesters in
police action during protests over the amended Citizenship Act here last
week.

Meanwhile, the 12-day Guwahati Book Fair, organised by the state
government’s Assam Publication Board, has been postponed indefinitely due to
“unforeseen circumstances”, Board Secretary Pramod Kalita said.

Assam witnessed violent protests against the Act with three rail
stations, a post office, a bank, a bus terminus, shops, dozens of vehicles
and many other public properties being set ablaze or damaged by the
protesters.

BSS/PTI/FI/ 1612 hrs