Tripura blocks internet, sms amid citizenship bill protest

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 11:34, Dec 11, 2019 | Updated : 11:47, Dec 11, 2019

Tripura protest. Photo: News24x7Alert.comTripura government has blocked mobile internet and SMS services across the Indian north-eastern state for 48 hours in view of violent protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, reports NDTV.

The move from Biplab Kumar Deb led BJP government in the state came amid violence that erupted during an 11-hour shutdown called by influential student groups in the Northeast to protest the BJP-led central government's move which, they allege, could rob the region of its ethnic identity.

The communications clampdown came into effect even as many demonstrators raised slogans against the centre in Agartala, demanding that the state be kept out of the purview of the controversial bill. "The services were stopped after state police found certain elements trying to incite violence through rumours circulated on social media," news agency ANI quoted a government official as saying.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill proposes to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before 2015. Many across the country, including imminent personalities, rights activists and opposition politicians, have demanded its immediate withdrawal in view of its "discriminatory" nature.

The lower house of the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha had passed the bill around midnight on Monday (Dec 9) after nearly seven hours of heated discussions, with 311 voting for it and 80 against.

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