Flight Operations From Kolkata Airport to Dibrugarh in Assam Suspended as Protest Rages Over Citizenship Amendment Bill
Passengers travelling on the Kolkata- Dibrugarh route today are likely to face inconvenience as all flights from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata to Dibrugarh airport in Mohanbari in the northeastern state of Assam will remain suspended.
Kolkata, December 12: Flight operations from Kolkata airport in West Bengal to Dibrugarh Airport in Assam have been cancelled for Thursday until further notice, an official at the Kolkata airport informed. The decision has been taken by the authorities in wake of the violent protest in Assam against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. This means passengers travelling on the Kolkata- Dibrugarh route are likely to face inconvenience on Thursday as all flights from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata to Dibrugarh airport in Mohanbari in the northeastern state of Assam will remain suspended.
Budget-carrier IndiGo issued a statement saying that due to prevailing situation in Assam, flights to/from Dibrugarh are cancelled for today, December 12, 2019. The airline added saying that flyers can choose an alternate flight or get a refund. Meanwhile, SpiceJet also offered refund and waiver of cancellation or change fees for all flights to and from Guwahati and Dibrugarh till Friday. Vistara and GoAir also announced the cancellation of flights to these two cities and waiving of cancellation or rescheduling fee.
Assam has been witnessing widespread violence against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Thousands of protesters took to streets, burning tyres, following which the authorities imposed curfew in Guwahati 6.15 pm on Wednesday, which was extended till indefinite period. Guwahati: Army Conducts Flag March to Quell Anti-CAB Protests, Indefinite Curfew Continues, Mobile Internet Remains Snapped.
In the wake of the ongoing turmoil, five Army Columns have been requisitioned and deployed in Assam. Mobile internet was suspended in 10 districts of the state while the Army undertook a flag march in Dibrugarh.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which has already been approved by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, proposes to give citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Jains, Budhists and Sikhs facing religion persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2019 10:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).