In wake of the ongoing protests across India, particularly in the Northeastern states over the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the US government has issued a travel advisory, asking its citizens to ‘exercise caution’ while travelling to northeastern states, reports NDTV.

“US citizens in the northeastern states of India should exercise caution in light of media reports of protests and violence in response to the approval of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Government curfews are in place in some areas. Internet and mobile communications may be disrupted. Transport may be affected in various parts of the region. Protests have also been reported in other parts of the country, the statement read.

UK, France, Israel and Canada had also issued a similar traffic advisory for their citizens planning to visit northeast India.

Notably, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which became an Act after President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent to it, has triggered protests in the country, especially in Assam, where curfew has been imposed in some areas.

As per the Act, members of the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh till Dec 31, 2014, and were facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants and granted Indian citizenship.

On Friday (Dec 13), the outrage against the CAB spread to the capital, Delhi after which an ugly agitation was witnessed at the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

The student protesters, who were baton-charged by police personnel, alleged that the cops also used tear gas to quell their march.