Assam protest: Arunachal CM asks officials to ensure strict

In view of the volatile situation in neighbouring Assam over the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday directed state officials to ensure strict checking of Inner Line Permits (ILP) in check gates across the state.

To visit the ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need to take permission. The amended Citizenship Act will not applicable to Arunachal Pradesh as the ILP system is in force in the state.

Khandu also asked Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and Director General of Police R P Upadhyaya to instruct all the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to be vigilant and conduct regular patrolling for ensuring safety and security of the state people, an official release said.

The chief minister has sought daily reports on the action taken in this regard.

Assam has been on the boil for the past several days as thousands of people have come out on the streets to protest against the amendment of the Citizenship Act. Two persons were killed in police firing in the state on Thursday.

The amended Citizenship Act will grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution there. They will be given Indian citizenship after residing in the country for five years.

Indigenous people of the Northeastern states are scared that the entry of these people will endanger their identity and livelihood.

Various organisations of the region have launched a series of agitations against the Bill.