Assam

Guwahati, Dec 26 (PTI) The NIA on Thursday searched the residence of arrested RTI activist Akhil Gogoi here, and seized several documents and a laptop computer, officials said.

The activist, who advises various farmer organisations, was arrested when Assam was witnessing widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Guwahati, Dec 24 (PTI) Tens of thousands of people hit the streets across Assam on Tuesday at the call of AASU, Congress and several other groups to peacefully protest against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The largest gathering was in Dibrugarh, the hometown of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. A large number of people assembled at Chowkidinghee playground at a programme by All Assam Students' Union (AASU), which is spearheading the protests.

Guwahati, Dec 25 (PTI) Christmas celebrations were a low-key affair in Assam amid ongoing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.

Despite the somber mood, midnight prayers for peace and happiness were organised across the state on Tuesday night.

Priests in various churches said that the situation and mood in the state did not enliven the spirit to celebrate the occasion with mirth and gaiety.

Guwahati, Dec 23 (PTI) Protests against the contentious citizenship law continued in Assam with agitators staging sit-ins across the state on Monday.

However, no violence from anywhere in the state was reported.

Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who was the founder of the Asom Gana Parishad which is an alliance partner of the ruling BJP in the state, joined a sit-in at the Gandhi Mandap, a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi atop the Sarania Hill in Guwahati with his party colleagues to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Guwahati, Dec 20 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court on Friday dismissed a review petition filed by the Assam government against its order to resume mobile internet from Thursday evening.

Though the Gauhati High Court ordered to resume the service from 5 pm on Thursday, the government did not issue any instruction to the mobile operators to implement it.

Mobile internet services were restored in Assam on Friday morning, on the tenth day after it was suspended to prevent misuse of social media during protest against the contentious amended Citizenship Act.

Guwahati, Dec 19 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court directed the Assam government to restore mobile internet services at 5 pm on Thursday.

A division bench of Justices Manojit Bhuyan and Saumitra Saikia gave the direction after hearing four PILs filed by journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, and advocates Bonoshri Gogoi, Randeep Sharma and Debakanta Doley.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) A total of seven flights to and from Guwahati was cancelled on Monday, while no passenger train ran from the Northeast towards the Eastern states following damage to railway properties in West Bengal during protests against the amended Citizenship Act, officials said.

At least three such trains including Agartala Bangalore Humsafar Express scheduled to leave on Tuesday were also cancelled.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) Suspension of internet services in Assam was extended by another 24 hours on Monday to prevent alleged misuse of social media in disturbing peace and maintain law and order in the state, officials said.

The state has been under an internet blackout since Wednesday amid violent protests against the citizenship law.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi were taken into police custody on Monday along with more than a hundred protesters during a rally in Guwahati against the citizenship law, officials said.

The AASU's three-day 'Satyagraha' began in the morning and the leaders addressed the protestors at the Latasil playground before beginning a march towards the deputy commissioner's office.

Guwahati, Dec 15 (PTI) Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) , an ally of the ruling BJP, said on Sunday that it would file a petition in the Supreme Court praying for revocation of the amended Citizenship Act, party leader Kumar Deepak Das said.

He asserted that the AGP respected the sentiments of common people, who were wary that the law might threaten their identity and existence.