Guwahati, December 12: Despite imposition of curfew in two places of Assam, students' body AASU and peasants organisation KMSS have asked people to step out of their homes at 11 am here on Thursday to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that was cleared in Parliament. An indefinite curfew had been imposed in Guwahati and Dibrugarh since Wednesday evening while the Army was called in at four places, including the state capital, Dibrguarh, Tinsukia and Jorhat districts.
"This fight against the bill will be very long. We urge people to come out and join the protest gathering at 11 am at Latashil field in Guwahati," All Assam Students' Union (AASU) chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya told reporters. Popular singer Zubeen Garg also appealed to people and the artist community to join the AASU-led programme. CAB Protests: All Train Services to Tripura, Assam Suspended; 12 Companies of RPSF Dispatched, Says Indian Railways.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) advisor Akhil Gogoi said "We request people to come out of their home and protest against this communal legislation. We appeal to people not to damage public property." Meanwhile, tea garden workers stopped work in Lakhimpur and Charaideo districts and also at Numaligarh in Golaghat district and some areas in Tinsukia district.
All educational institutions across the state are closed. Internet services have been suspended in 10 districts, beginning 7 pm on Wednesday, as massive protests raged across cities, to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquility and maintain law and order.
Thousands of anti-CAB protesters had descended on the streets of Assam on Wednesday, clashing with police and plunging the state into chaos of a magnitude unseen since the violent six-year movement by students that ended with the signing of the Assam accord.