Sentiments ran high against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment Bill) in Assam on Thursday, as people came out on the streets despite inconveniences caused by imposition of curfew on parts of the state.
As the day wore on, a large number of people assembled at several places in the state capital, many holding placards and raising slogans against the emotive legislation.
An indefinitive curfew has been imposed on Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Dhekiajuli, while night curfew is in force on Jorhat, Tinsukia, Golaghat and Charaideo districts.
Internet services in 10 districts were suspended for another 48 hours beginning 12 pm to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquility, and to maintain law and order, officials said.
Damayanti Deka, 70, said she decided to hit the streets despite her frailties for the larger cause of the Assamese community.
"I am old and I cannot even walk properly. Still, I have come out because it is about my existence and identity," Deka told PTI at Ulubari here.
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She said the curfew has caused inconvenience but her family is ready to bear it for the "betterment of the state" as the bill will "endanger" the Assamese community.
The septuagenarian held a placard that read: "We don't want CAB".
Another Ulubari resident, Mayuri Bora, who is in her mid-30s, said the central government has committed a mistake by clearing the citizenship bill.
"It will jeopardise the state's development. How can someone talk about development by bringing in more illegal immigrants. We do not want them," she said.
Bora said she is finding it difficult to run her kitchen, as shops were closed after the indefinite curfew was imposed.
Tamal Roy, who was on board the Donyi Polo Express from Itanagar, reached Guwahati station on Thursday morning, where he had to keep waiting as auto-rickshaws turned him down, citing the closure of fuel depots.
Roy told PTI that he and two other passengers finally managed to get hold of one auto-rickshaw, which took them to a particular point from where they had to travel on foot to reach their destination.
Anil Barua, a Dibrugarh resident, said the protests should not turn violent since it will derail the main objective.
"If violence takes place, the administration will be strict and we will not be able to convince them regarding withdrawal of the bill. The curfew is a result of violence," he said.
Several passengers at the LGB International Airport and Guwahati Railway Station were stranded on Thursday, due to either cancellation or delay of flights and trains, the officials said.
The civil aviation ministry had earlier said movement of passengers at Dibrugarh airport in Assam has been disrupted, owing to blockage of road transportation to and from the aerodrome.
The stranded passengers have been evacuated in a phased manner, the ministry said in a series of tweets.
Guwahati resembled a garrison town with Army, paramilitary and state police personnel stationed in every nook and corner, watching helplessly, as frenzied mobs blocked roads with burning discarded tyres and menaced commuters by bludgeoning their vehicles with sticks and stones.