Just a day after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed "immense satisfaction" in the state amid country-wide anti-Waqf protests, violence erupted in Silchar. Clash broke out between protestors and police on Sunday after the protestors started throwing stone at the police. To control the situation, the police used lathi-charged, a report by PTI stated.
Around 400 people staged protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. The official told PTI that several hundred people hit the streets in the Berenga area of Silchar town without permission to protest the recently enacted legislation. "Around 300-400 people were protesting by blocking the road. When we tried to clear the path, a few of them threw stones at us. We had to use mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd," he added.
Anti-Waqf protest in Silchar | Watch
No arrests so far
The police further informed that the area has been cleared. A case has been registered, but no one has been detained or arrested. As per the video shared by PTI, the protestors showed black flags and shouted slogans against the BJP government, demanding the repeal of the Act.
Assam CM lauded police, minority leaders for peaceful situation
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday lauded the efforts of the state police and minority leaders for ensuring peace across the state amid intelligence inputs warning of possible unrest over the protest on the Waqf Amendment Act. "We had strong intelligence inputs that Assam could witness some disturbances due to protests by the minority community yesterday," he said at a press conference.
He informed that on getting inputs of possible violence, the police reached out to leaders of the minority community and masjid committees. The administration worked extensively for five days to ensure a peaceful situation.
"Yesterday was a day of immense satisfaction," he said, adding that the state witnessed protests in three places, with the participation of around 150 people in each rally. "Despite having nearly 40 per cent Muslim population, Assam has remained peaceful today except for isolated protests in three places involving not more than 150 participants each against the Waqf Amendment Act," he had said.
