North East erupts in protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: SMS, internet suspended in Tripura; protests in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal throw normal life out of gear

The protests come even as the revised Citizenship Bill excluded all states with an Inner Line Permit and the Sixth Schedule regions in Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya. An 11-hour North East bandh called by an umbrella body of students’ organisations of the region to protest the Citizenship Bill began at 5 am on Tuesday. A government notification, issued by the Additional Secretary to the Government of Tripura AK Bhattacharya said, “It has been noticed that SMS, WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are being widely used for transmission of fake images and videos as well as text messages which have potential to incite violence in the state at a larger rate… Therefore, in order to prevent the misuse of the above mentioned media to disturb the peace and tranquility of the entire state and for maintaining the law and order situation… is hereby directed to promulgate this notification under the provision of Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to prohibit the following types of media for the next 48 hours beginning from 1400 hours on 10 December, 2019 in the entire state of Tripura.” Internet and all communication lines shut off in Tripura after reported clashes. Arunachal Pradesh The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union announced an 11-hour statewide bandh in support of the North East Students’ Organisation’s protest. Taku further said, “Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that the CAB would not be applicable to Inner Line Permit regime states like Arunachal, Mizoram, and Nagaland, AAPSU’s stance on the matter is very clear and it will stand with NESO and its decision.” Educational institutions, banks, commercial establishments and markets were closed while public and private vehicles were off the roads in most places of Arunachal Pradesh in response to the strike called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union.