Citizenship Amendment Bill: Protesters on hunger strike in Guwahati

Indefinite curfew, which was imposed in Dibrugarh town in the Indian state of Assam, was relaxed for five hours today when a large number of protesters joined a hunger strike in Guwahati called by All Assam Students Union (AASU) to protest against the Citizenship Act.

The indefinite curfew was relaxed from 8:00am (local time) today, our New delhi correspondent reports quoting officials concerned.

The army and other security forces were conducting flag marches in Guwahati town which was the ground zero of the protests, besides Dibrugarh and Tezpur.

Hundreds of people, including artists, singers and film stars are observing a 10-hour fast that began at Chandmari locality of Guwahati at 6:00am (Indian time).

AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said the protests will continue. "We will not succumb to any pressure and our agitation will continue," he said.

Two persons were killed and four injured in police firing in Guwahati yesterday and thousands descended on streets defying curfew.

Several other towns and cities in Assam were placed under indefinite curfew including Dhekiajuli. Night curfew was imposed in Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinsukia and Charaideo districts, officials said.

Internet services in 10 districts of Assam were suspended for another 48 hours beginning 12noon of Thursday to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquillity, and to maintain law and order, officials said.

The state government effected a top level-shake up of the police set-up removing Guwahati Police commissioner Deepak Kumar and Additional director general of police (law and order) Mukesh Agarwal.