Over 110 people, including students, teachers, and local residents, were taken into custody in Assam’s Sribhumi district (earlier known as Karimganj) on Saturday (September 6) during demonstrations opposing the government’s decision to rename the district, police officials said. The state cabinet had approved the change in November last year, renaming Karimganj to Sribhumi in reference to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s 1919 visit to the area. Tagore is said to have described the region as “Sribhumi” — the land of Goddess Lakshmi.&nbsp;After the announcement, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X, saying the government had “fulfilled a long-standing demand of the people.” But many residents expressed discontent, staging protests against the decision. The chief minister’s recent visit to the district, where he attacked opposition parties, further inflamed tempers and prompted several organisations to call a 12-hour bandh.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-partnership-will-play-key-role-in-fostering-global-peace-pm-modi-holds-talks-with-macron-on-ukraine-bilateral-cooperation-1757166646971">‘Partnership will play key role in fostering global peace’: PM Modi holds talks with Macron on Ukraine, bilateral cooperation</a>&nbsp;The protest began on Saturday morning and quickly created fault lines, with some groups supporting the shutdown and others resisting it. Anticipating violence, the administration imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Clashes broke out in Sribhumi town as bandh supporters and opponents faced off.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police said the situation worsened when protesters turned on security personnel. “Some people, including minors, threw stones at our officials. We had to use lathis to bring the situation under control. A few officers were injured in the process,” said Sribhumi SSP Partha Pratim Das. In Badarpur, a confrontation involving students and teachers of a government college also turned violent, with police personnel allegedly attacked. Several individuals were detained as a preventive measure.&nbsp;Authorities said sporadic incidents occurred in other parts of the district as well, though they were quickly contained with the help of reinforcements. “All detentions were made under Section 163 of BNSS. Further decisions will be taken after reviewing the situation,” the SSP added.

Over 110 arrested in Assam’s Sribhumi during protests against renaming of district

Over 110 people, including students, teachers, and local residents, were taken into custody in Assam’s Sribhumi district (earlier known as Karimganj) on Saturday (September 6) during demonstrations opposing the government’s decision to rename the district, police officials said. The state cabinet had approved the change in November last year, renaming Karimganj to Sribhumi in reference to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s 1919 visit to the area. Tagore is said to have described the region as “Sribhumi” — the land of Goddess Lakshmi. After the announcement, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X, saying the government had “fulfilled a long-standing demand of the people.” But many residents expressed discontent, staging protests against the decision. The chief minister’s recent visit to the district, where he attacked opposition parties, further inflamed tempers and prompted several organisations to call a 12-hour bandh. Also Read: ‘Partnership will play key role in fostering global peace’: PM Modi holds talks with Macron on Ukraine, bilateral cooperation The protest began on Saturday morning and quickly created fault lines, with some groups supporting the shutdown and others resisting it. Anticipating violence, the administration imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Clashes broke out in Sribhumi town as bandh supporters and opponents faced off. Police said the situation worsened when protesters turned on security personnel. “Some people, including minors, threw stones at our officials. We had to use lathis to bring the situation under control. A few officers were injured in the process,” said Sribhumi SSP Partha Pratim Das. In Badarpur, a confrontation involving students and teachers of a government college also turned violent, with police personnel allegedly attacked. Several individuals were detained as a preventive measure. Authorities said sporadic incidents occurred in other parts of the district as well, though they were quickly contained with the help of reinforcements. “All detentions were made under Section 163 of BNSS. Further decisions will be taken after reviewing the situation,” the SSP added.

Over 110 people, including students and locals, were held in Assam’s Sribhumi as protests against Karimganj’s renaming turned violent during a protest

India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The act paves the way for granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The protests were led by an opposition bloc of 16 political parties, called United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), which is led by the Congress party. The UOFA also called for a state-wide shutdown on Tuesday (Mar 12). All Assam Students' Union (AASU) declared it will challenge the legislation ‘in and outside court.’ It said its members will also travel to New Delhi to urge the central government to withdraw the CAA.

AASU protesters on Monday burnt copies of the Act and staged protest rallies in different parts of the state, including Guwahati, Kamrup, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Tezpur.

<h2>Arguments against CAA</h2>

AASU and other political groups opposing the CAA say it will dilute the indigenous Assamese population by granting citizenship to a significant number of Hindu Bengali migrants who came from neighbouring Bangladesh during the 1971 war.

They also fear that the law would challenge their culture and undermine their languages and communities.

Watch:&nbsp;PM Modi Assam Visit: On Day 2, PM Modi visits Kaziranga National park in Assam

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AASU also led the intense protests against ‘foreigners’ between 1979 and 1985. The organisation says CAA would undermine the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which promised to identify migrants as "foreigners" against the cut-off date of March 24, 1971.

Assam witnessed massive protests in 2019 when the legislation was passed by the Indian parliament.

<h2>‘Black day’</h2>

Chief of the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party that emerged from the anti-CAA agitation in 2019, termed Mar 11 as a black day. Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘dividing people’ ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjV-LCm5-2EAxXVSWwGHZ-SDi4QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-assam-set-to-inaugurate-projects-worth-21-bn-698203" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-assam-set-to-inaugurate-projects-worth-21-bn-698203&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjV-LCm5-2EAxXVSWwGHZ-SDi4QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">WATCH | PM Modi visits Kaziranga National Park in Assam, takes elephant safari</a>

Meanwhile, the BJP says the protests are held by a faction of individuals and people of the country largely supported the government’s move.

<h2>Delhi police on high alert</h2>

Amid concerns of protests in the National Capital Region (NCR),&nbsp;Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) held flag march in Delhi's Seelampur area on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, opposition parties from Tamil Nadu state have voiced concerns about the implementation of CAA in the state, saying that the law will divide the people on religious lines.

<h2>Warning by Assam CM</h2>

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who hails from BJP, warned that any political party or group holding protests against CAA would be dealt with legal action. Sarma cited a Gauhati High Court order dated March 19, 2023, which said that "bandhs are illegal and unconstitutional".

Police have also issued a notice to UOFA against holding protests.

(With inputs from agencies)

India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).

India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The act paves the way for granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The protests were led by an opposition bloc of 16 political parties, called United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), which is led by the Congress party. The UOFA also called for a state-wide shutdown on Tuesday (Mar 12). All Assam Students' Union (AASU) declared it will challenge the legislation ‘in and outside court.’ It said its members will also travel to New Delhi to urge the central government to withdraw the CAA. AASU protesters on Monday burnt copies of the Act and staged protest rallies in different parts of the state, including Guwahati, Kamrup, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Tezpur. Arguments against CAA AASU and other political groups opposing the CAA say it will dilute the indigenous Assamese population by granting citizenship to a significant number of Hindu Bengali migrants who came from neighbouring Bangladesh during the 1971 war. They also fear that the law would challenge their culture and undermine their languages and communities. Watch: PM Modi Assam Visit: On Day 2, PM Modi visits Kaziranga National park in Assam × AASU also led the intense protests against ‘foreigners’ between 1979 and 1985. The organisation says CAA would undermine the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which promised to identify migrants as "foreigners" against the cut-off date of March 24, 1971. Assam witnessed massive protests in 2019 when the legislation was passed by the Indian parliament. ‘Black day’ Chief of the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party that emerged from the anti-CAA agitation in 2019, termed Mar 11 as a black day. Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘dividing people’ ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Also read: WATCH | PM Modi visits Kaziranga National Park in Assam, takes elephant safari Meanwhile, the BJP says the protests are held by a faction of individuals and people of the country largely supported the government’s move. Delhi police on high alert Amid concerns of protests in the National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) held flag march in Delhi's Seelampur area on Tuesday. Meanwhile, opposition parties from Tamil Nadu state have voiced concerns about the implementation of CAA in the state, saying that the law will divide the people on religious lines. Warning by Assam CM Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who hails from BJP, warned that any political party or group holding protests against CAA would be dealt with legal action. Sarma cited a Gauhati High Court order dated March 19, 2023, which said that "bandhs are illegal and unconstitutional". Police have also issued a notice to UOFA against holding protests. (With inputs from agencies)

Opposition calls for state-wide shutdown in India’s Assam against Citizenship Amendment Act

At least three people have lost their lives so far while 27 sustained injuries in the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the state, reported news agency ANI.

At least three people have lost their lives so far while 27 sustained injuries in the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the state, reported news agency ANI. The information was provided by the government-run Guwahati Medical College Hospital where injured were given treatment, the report added. Protests broke out in many parts of Assam and North-East following the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament and it later became an Act thereupon after Presidential assent on December 12. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. (With inputs from ANI)

Assam: 3 dead, 27 injured in protests over Citizenship (Amendment) Act

Protestors squatted on railway tracks, pelted stones at vehicles and burnt tyres on roads in some districts of Assam during a 12-hour state-wide bandh on Saturday, called to protest the gunning down of five men in Tinsukia district.

The police detained over 700 protesters in the bandh, the impact of which was partial across the state barring Bengali-dominated Barak valley and a few places in Brahmaputra valley where normal life was considerably affected.&nbsp;

There was no impact of the bandh in state capital Guwahati where all establishments and vehicles functioned normally.

"715 picketers detained across the state until now. We stand resolute on our promise of ensuring public order for the people of #Assam (sic)," the state police said on microblogging site Twitter.

Shops, business establishments, education institutions and private offices remained closed and most vehicles stayed off the roads in the Barak Valley districts of Cachar,

Karimganj and Hailakandi due to the bandh which was called by the All Assam Bangali Yuba Chatra Federation, All Assam Bengali Students Union and some other like-minded organisations to protest the killings of five Bengali-speaking men, including three of a family, by gunmen at Kheronibari village on Thursday.

The bandh in Barak Valley was supported by Opposition Congress. The ruling BJP extended support to it in Hailakandi as per its district president Subrata Nath. 
Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, who hit the streets in Silchar to impose the bandh, was picked up by the police, officials said, adding that the legislator was released later.

Demanding security for Bengali-speaking people, agitators squatted on the tracks at Lumding Rail Station in Hojai district to block the movements of Brahmaputra Express and other trains, officials said. The agitators were soon removed from the tracks. 
 
The bandh supporters burnt tyres on the roads at various places across the state, but were cleared by security personnel promptly, police said. 
At Samuguri and Amoni in Hojai, bandh picketers and supporters blocking the highway pelted stones at vehicles, damaging several buses and trucks.

There were reports of clashes between supporters of the bandh and those opposing it at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district, but the situation was brought under control soon.

The bandh had minimal impact in Guwahati, where normal life continued as usual. Offices, commercial establishments, educational institutions and banks remained open. Buses and other modes of public transport plied on the roads like any other day.

The bandh sponsors exempted Tinsukia and Dibrugarh from their bandh call as the two districts had observed a similar strike yesterday from 5 am to protest against the killings.

On Friday, the Assam government in a written order had directed deputy commissioners to ensure normal functioning of all government establishments, smooth vehicular movement and opening of business establishments.

The order also directed all security agencies to be kept on high alert to prevent any breach of peace which may lead to law and order issues.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Protestors squatted on railway tracks, pelted stones at vehicles and burnt tyres on roads in some districts of Assam during a 12-hour state-wide bandh on Saturday, called to protest the gunning down of five men in Tinsukia district.

Protestors squatted on railway tracks, pelted stones at vehicles and burnt tyres on roads in some districts of Assam during a 12-hour state-wide bandh on Saturday, called to protest the gunning down of five men in Tinsukia district. The police detained over 700 protesters in the bandh, the impact of which was partial across the state barring Bengali-dominated Barak valley and a few places in Brahmaputra valley where normal life was considerably affected. There was no impact of the bandh in state capital Guwahati where all establishments and vehicles functioned normally. "715 picketers detained across the state until now. We stand resolute on our promise of ensuring public order for the people of #Assam (sic)," the state police said on microblogging site Twitter. Shops, business establishments, education institutions and private offices remained closed and most vehicles stayed off the roads in the Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi due to the bandh which was called by the All Assam Bangali Yuba Chatra Federation, All Assam Bengali Students Union and some other like-minded organisations to protest the killings of five Bengali-speaking men, including three of a family, by gunmen at Kheronibari village on Thursday. The bandh in Barak Valley was supported by Opposition Congress. The ruling BJP extended support to it in Hailakandi as per its district president Subrata Nath. Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, who hit the streets in Silchar to impose the bandh, was picked up by the police, officials said, adding that the legislator was released later. Demanding security for Bengali-speaking people, agitators squatted on the tracks at Lumding Rail Station in Hojai district to block the movements of Brahmaputra Express and other trains, officials said. The agitators were soon removed from the tracks. The bandh supporters burnt tyres on the roads at various places across the state, but were cleared by security personnel promptly, police said. At Samuguri and Amoni in Hojai, bandh picketers and supporters blocking the highway pelted stones at vehicles, damaging several buses and trucks. There were reports of clashes between supporters of the bandh and those opposing it at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district, but the situation was brought under control soon. The bandh had minimal impact in Guwahati, where normal life continued as usual. Offices, commercial establishments, educational institutions and banks remained open. Buses and other modes of public transport plied on the roads like any other day. The bandh sponsors exempted Tinsukia and Dibrugarh from their bandh call as the two districts had observed a similar strike yesterday from 5 am to protest against the killings. On Friday, the Assam government in a written order had directed deputy commissioners to ensure normal functioning of all government establishments, smooth vehicular movement and opening of business establishments. The order also directed all security agencies to be kept on high alert to prevent any breach of peace which may lead to law and order issues.

12-hour bandh affects normal life in some districts of Assam, 700 protesters detained

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Over 110 arrested in Assam’s Sribhumi during protests against renaming of district

Opposition calls for state-wide shutdown in India’s Assam against Citizenship Amendment Act

Assam: 3 dead, 27 injured in protests over Citizenship (Amendment) Act

12-hour bandh affects normal life in some districts of Assam, 700 protesters detained