Assam Anti-CAB Protests: Guwahati Commissioner replaced

Guwahati: Amid violent protests that have taken Assam by a storm against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Assam state government has replaced the Guwahati Police commissioner and another senior officer responsible for law and order in the state.

City police chief Deepak Kumar was replaced by Munna Prasad Gupta in his place as per a public statement that came in from Commissioner and Secretary (Home and Political) Ashutosh Agnihotri.

Munna Prasad Gupta's previous posting before he was made Police commissioner, was in Special Protection Group.

Assam's additional general of police (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal has been transferred as ADGP (CID). GP Singh has replaced him according to officials' statements. GP Singh's previous posting was in New Delhi. He was serving as the inspector general of police at the National Investigation Agency.

ADGP (CID) LR Bishnoi has also been transferred as ADGP (training and armed police). ADGP SN Singh and deputy inspector general of police Anand Prakash Tiwari has also been brought in to supervise the law and order situation in the state.

Thousands of people carried on with the protests even amid the imposed curfew and internet suspension. This prompted the policemen to open fire, as the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill started to intensify in Assam.

Police stated that they opened fire in Lalung Gaon area in Guwahati after the protesters hurled stones at them. The agitators claimed that at least four persons were injured in the shooting.

Police also had to fire in the air in several other areas of the city, including the Guwahati-Shillong Road which turned into a war zone as protestors vandalized shops and buildings, burnt tyres and clashed with security forces.

Local train services in Tripura and Assam have been suspended due to security and safety concerns. The move has stranded many in these two states which already have limited connectivity to the rest of the country. Many passengers are stranded in Kamakhya and Guwahati. Many airlines too have cancelled flight services to Assam.