Two dead in India’s Assam as protests over citizenship law turn violent

Violence broke out after India’s parliament approved the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), which offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal migrants

Police in Guwahati fired bullets as protesters demonstrated in the streets, defying a curfew

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Police officers try to rescue a fellow officer who was set on fire during a protest against the Indian government's Citizenship Amendment Bill, in Agartala, the capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Published: 11:59pm, 11 Dec 2019Updated: 6:22am, 13 Dec 2019

Violent mobs in India’s northeastern state of Assam torched buildings and clashed with police on Thursday, leaving two dead and 11 with bullet wounds, as protests grew over a new citizenship law for non-Muslim minorities from some neighbouring countries.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), passed by the upper house on Wednesday, allows for the fast-tracking of citizenship applications from religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but not Muslims.

For Islamic groups, the opposition, rights groups and others in India, the new law is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist agenda to marginalise the country’s 200 million Muslims, something he denies.

Police officers try to detain demonstrators during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Photo: Reuters

But many in India’s far-flung northeast object because they fear the legislation, which prompted angry exchanges in parliament this week, will give citizenship to Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh.

Five thousand paramilitary forces were deployed in the city of Guwahati in Assam state, while many roads and motorways were blocked to prevent the spread of protests.

Police in Guwahati fired bullets and tear gas as groups of protesters, some numbering several hundred, demonstrated in the streets, defying a curfew imposed on Wednesday.

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