GUWAHATI, Dec 8 - Security forces have been put on high alert across the State while personal safety arrangements of political leaders belonging to the ruling BJP and its ally Asom Gana Parishad are being reviewed in view of the escalating protests vis-a-vis tabling of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) in Parliament.
Additional forces have been deployed in various parts of the State in apprehension of law and order problems that might crop up. The CAB is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on December 9 and kept for subsequent passage on December 10. The Assam Police headquarters has directed Superintendents of Police (SPs) of all the districts to remain alert to prevent any kind of untoward incident and, if necessary, make preventive arrests.
�Movement of certain political leaders has also been restrained and there has been a virtual embargo on them making public appearances, although there is no formal communication on that,� a district SP of central Assam told this reporter.
Already, anti-CAB protestors have upped the ante, with many districts witnessing sporadic incidents of violence. At some places, political leaders were at the receiving end of protests and had to be whisked away by security personnel.
Top Assam Police sources told The Assam Tribune that SPs have been asked to keep a tab on vulnerable areas and keep additional forces, including paramilitary, on standby.
In view of the shutdown call by the North East Students� Organisation (NESO) on December 10, police sources said elaborate arrangements have been put in place to ensure that no damage is caused to life and public property.
Assam Police, meanwhile, has also made an appeal to people not to believe misinformation spread across social media on CAB. �Some mischievous elements are attempting to disseminate hate messages and fake news. Anyone found indulging in such anti-social activities would be brought to book,� a senior Assam Police official said, adding that a team of Assam Police is continuously monitoring the web.
