AGARTALA, Dec 12 - Tension has been mounting at Teliamura in Khowai district, Takarjala and Bisramganj in Sepahijala district, and Ganganagar, Gandacherra in Dhalai district since Wednesday following protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Sensing trouble, the Assam Rifles conducted a flag march in some sensitive areas. However, no violence was reported today.
Meanwhile, Swapan Dennath, a villager of Icharbill area in Khowai district, was shot at by unknown miscreants, sparking tension in the entire Teliamura subdivision. Additional forces have been deployed to control the situation.
Though the Joint Movement Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (JMACAB) withdrew its indefinite bandh call after a meeting with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb last night, reports of stray violence still poured in today.
Bandh supporters threatened shopkeepers at the Ganganagar market under the Ambassa subdivision and set fire to 15 shops during the day. The shopkeepers took shelter in the Ganganagar police station. Sources said that a peace meeting was held this morning, and that panic-stricken families are expected to return to their homes shortly.
In the Taidu market, six shops were set afire last night. Miscreants blocked the road from both sides of Teliamura and Amarpur to prevent the fire brigade and police vehicles from entering the area. Similar incidents were reported from Ampi area under the Amarpur subdivision where tension is still running high despite the withdrawal of the bandh call and deployment of security forces.
Meanwhile, MP Rebati Tripura today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on the latest situation in the State after the passage of the citizenship Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the Union Minister is expected to hold a meeting with JMACAB leaders in New Delhi within the next 10 days to hear their concerns over the Bill.
