We Are On Our Way To Peace

Assam top cop Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said peaceful protests were being allowed for now.

Guwahati:

Assam Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta today said that while violence in the state over the amended Citizenship Act has largely abated, the police were still keeping a tight vigil to ensure that the situation does not go out of control again. 

“We are on our way to peace. Today is a much better day, but we will keep a tight vigil. We have our duties in place, and our teams are working tirelessly. It is a tough time, but we are working on it,” he told NDTV.

Mr Mahanta, however, claimed that the police were not enforcing restrictions on the people for now. “Today, we decided against keeping a tight leash on the situation. People are being allowed to come out and buy household goods,” he said, adding that Internet connectivity will be brought back once the situation returns to normal.

Assam’s Guwahati had witnessed largescale violence on Thursday, with thousands defying curfew orders to protest the amended Citizenship Act. The day ended with two protesters dying in police firing, and over a thousand taken into custody. Today, thousands answered a call from the All Assam Students Union to converge on Chandmari playground and undertake a mass hunger strike.