Centre Starts Moving Paramilitary Forces From Kashmir To Assam Amid Protests Over CAB

Amid the violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in northeastern states, the Narendra Modi government has started moving paramilitary forces from Jammu and Kashmir to Assam. According to news agency ANI, as many as 10 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been moved from Jammu and Kashmir to Assam. Ten more companies of the CRPF will be released to the government of Assam.

"THe MHA has cancelled the order of induction of seven CRPF companies to Manipur on the operational ground and these comapnies should be released to the government of Assam for low and order duty on the arrival of the special train at Dimapur," the agency quoted an official communication as saying.

The paramilitry troops were deployed in the Valley in anticipation of violent protests following the Centre's decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status guaranteed under the Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5. With situation under control in the Kashmir and worsening in the northeast, the troops are being moved to the region.

The northeast region is witnessing massive protests over the controversial bill that was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Monday and is up for debate and passage in the Rajya Sabha today. In Tripura, normal life was hit following statewide indefinite bandh called by tribal parties and organisations against the bill. The Tripura administration shut down internet service for 48 hours in wake of protests against the against the bill.

#WATCH Assam: Protests continue against #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019, in Guwahati. Police also use tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. pic.twitter.com/5lul19ToTO

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019

Also Read | Army Deployed In Assam, Tripura As Protests Against Citizenship Amendment Bill Turn Violent

Earlier in the day, thousands took to streets in Guwahati, Assam against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The protests turned violent and police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells on protesters. Several students were reportedly injured in the brutal police lathcharge. "This is a barbaric government led by Sarbananda Sonowal. We will not succumb to any pressure till the CAB is repealed," the students said.

As the protests took a violent turn, Army has also been deployed in the states of Assam and Tripura. While two columns have been sent to Kanchanpur and Manu areas of Tripura, a third has been dispatched to Bongaingon in Assam. The move to deploy the Army has come after violent clashes erupted in these areas between the protesters and police.