In the mid of Rongali Bihu, a massive protest stage in Silchar in demand of cancellation of waqf Amendment law on April 13, Sunday.
The massive protest rally staged by Muslims community against the Waqf Act. The Waqf Amendment Bill become law on April 5, after it get it get the assent of President Droupadi Murmu.
This protest sparked tension across the Silchar, city on Sunday including, Janiganj, Chamragudam, Berenga old Lakhipur Road.
The protest rally began early morning at the Berenga New Road point and soon grew as protesters marched toward Silchar town. They demanded that the Waqf Amendment Act be cancelled immediately. Carrying placards and shouting slogans, the protesters called the law “anti-Islamic” and warned that their protest would spread across the country if the Act is not withdrawn. They chant “Allahu Akbar.”
The peaceful protest turned tense when police tried to stop the march, which leads to stone pelting towards police. Police responded it by Lathi charge.
Cachar Police SP Numal Mahatta, Additional SP Subrata Sen and other police personal immediately rushed to the Kalibari point – the busy area in Janiganj, Sadar Thana of Silchar to block the protestors advance. A group of CRPF officials arrived at the place.
The protest intensified in Chamragudam when another group of demonstrators tried to join the main rally. As bamboo and human barricades were broken, a direct clash followed, forcing police to use lathicharge to disperse the crowd.
Another violence erupted at Bakharshabari Point on Old Lakhipur Road where some protestors reportedly threw stones at the police. In response, security forces used another round of lathicharge. Local residents also stepped in to control protestors who became aggressive.
A leader from the protest group later said, “Our fight is with the amendment, not the police. What happened today is unfortunate, and we strongly condemn the stone-pelting. The police are here to maintain peace.”
