West Bengal: Govt suspends internet services in six districts amid violent anti-Citizenship Act protests

In view of the intensifying protests against Citizenship Act, internet services have been shut down in six districts of West Bengal — Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Howrah, South 24 Parganas (Baruipur and Canning subdivisions), and North 24 Parganas (Basirhat and Barasat subdivisions).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a statement, has said that despite the government's strict warnings to the people against engaging in violent protest, several such incidents throughout the past day has made the government take this step and shut down internet services in the six districts.

Several incidents of violence were reported from several districts in West Bengal on Saturday as the protests over the new Citizenship Act spread to other states from the Northeast. 

Incidents of violence were reported in Murshidabad, Howrah and Malda districts of West Bengal where protesters blocked roads, vandalised railway stations and buses, leading to disruptions in vehicular movement and train services. 

In Murshidabad, according to reports, trains were stopped at Jangipur, Mahipal, Agardighi and Poradanga stations. The movement of trains from Lalgola to Plassey was stopped as well. Governments buses were vandalised in Sajurmod area of Suti police station. Protestors also torched down Sakrail railway stations ticket counter.

A number of empty trains were set on fire at Murshidabad's Krishnapur railway station. Railway tracks at Lalgola station were also ransacked.

Places like Jalangi, Raghunathganj, Sahmserganj, Kandi, Baharampur and Domkal had maximum effect of the protest was the normal life came to standstill because of the protest. 

To control the law and order situation, police at Kona Expressway resorted to lathi-charge and used tear gas to remove the protestors, who were pelting stones and bricks on them.

Some incidents were also reported from Malda district where Malda - Katihar Local Passenger was stopped by protestors who vandalised Harishchandrapur Station. 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has aggressively opposed the controversial act, appealed for peace.

In a statement released from the chief minister's office, Mamata said, "Do not take up law in your hand. Do not put up road blockades and rail blockades and create trouble for the common people on the roads."

"Do not cause damage to government properties. Strict action would be taken against those who are found guilty in creating disturbances," she said.

"Strict action would be taken against those who are found guilty in creating disturbances and for taking law in their hands," the CMO statement added. 

The opposition BJP said it will seek the imposition of President's Rule in the state if the "mayhem by Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators continued."

"She has done little to contain the spiralling violence which is on for the past two days in the state over the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill,"  BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said. 

"Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators are behind the violence and not the peace-loving Muslim community here. The Muslim community of Bengal should be alert that its name is not tarnished by the rioters," he said.

The Act aims to provide for Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India instead of the current mandatory stay of 11 years even if they do not possess any document. Several from the Northeast have claimed that the Citizenship rules puts the indigenous identity of the Northeastern regions at risk by legitimising several migrants, even though the central government has refuted any such claim.