Railways has suspended all passenger train services in Tripura and Assam and short-terminated long distance trains to the region to Guwahati following protests in the two states over the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament, a railway spokesperson told PTI on Thursday.
The decision was taken Wednesday night in view of the security situation in the region, Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson Subhanan Chanda said, adding many passengers are stranded in Kamakhya and Guwahati.
After a railway station in Dibrugarh's Chabua, the hometown of the Assam chief minister, was set on fire by protestors late Wednesday night and the Panitola railway station in Tinsukia district torched, 12 companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) have been dispatched to the region, DG of RPF Arun Kumar told PTI.
Guwahati has become the epicentre of anti-CAB protests, and was placed under indefinite curfew while Army was called in at four places and Assam Rifles personnel were deployed in Tripura on Wednesday, as the two northeastern states plunged into chaos over the hugely emotive Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, officials said.
Army PRO Lt Col P Khongsai said two Army columns have been deployed in Guwahati city and are carrying out flag marches.
Army has also been deployed in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Jorhat districts, officials said.
Late in the night, curfew was also imposed in Dibrugarh for an indefinite period as protesters targeted the houses of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union minister Rameswar Teli in the district.
A Defence spokesperson said that troops of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force commanded by Army officials, were pressed into service in Tripura.