Guwahati:
After West Bengal, protests against the Waqf Amendment Act in Assam today observed violence. A demonstration against the new law, which approved Parliament a week ago, threw stones at the police by a part of protesters in Catcher district of Assam. Security forces dispersed the crowd to bring the situation under control in Silker Town.
Silker, the areas affected by violence, include Chamragudam, Baleng and Old Lakhipur Road areas. The protest rally started this morning and was initially peaceful. The protesters carried on the placards and raised slogans that the Act was “anti -Islamic” and said that if he was not taken back, they would intensify the movement. Later, some uncontrolled youth joined the rally and started throwing stones at the police. The police used Lathicarg to disperse the mob.
Cachar Police chief Numal Mahatta said that the police used “proper force” to disperse the mob. “First, the rally was peaceful, but some troubles entered the rally and tried to create a law and order problem. But we controlled the situation. Around 300-400 people gathered to protest against the Waqf Amendment Act. All the criminals tried to harass peace, charging under the law.”
A guard said that he conducted a peaceful protest and condemned to avoid stone. “We organized a peaceful rally against the Waqf Amendment Act in the Silker.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Himant Sarma yesterday highlighted that there was no untoward incident in Assam on the Waqf Amendment Act and thanked the Muslim community. Yesterday in a media briefing, the Chief Minister said that Assam was peaceful despite some protests against the Assam law. He also praised the Assam Police. He said, “We had prior intelligence that yesterday, after Friday’s prayer, there could be mass protests related to the Waqf Act. The Assam Police worked on a large scale in the last 5 days. We spoke to minority leaders and ensured that there was no incident of violence in Assam,” he said.
In many parts of the country, Muslims have hit the streets in protest against the Waqf Amendment Act. In West Bengal’s Murshidabad, three people have been killed after the law became violent. The Calcutta High Court has ordered that central forces be deployed to maintain peace. In Tripura, several police were injured during the struggle against the Act between police and protesters.
The WAQF Amendment Act introduces significant changes in the law controlling the WAQF properties in the country. While the ruling BJP emphasizes that the law aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties and promote transparency, the opposition and Muslim organizations have accused Waqf properties of dazzling and targeting the minority community.
