The Assam Police announced on Saturday morning that the curfew in the state's main city of Guwahati would be relaxed from 9am to 4pm during the day. The announcement is a sign of the authorities' confidence of the city slowly returning to peace after violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act on Wednesday and Thursday.
Media reports on Saturday morning claimed long queues could be seen outside shops in several areas of Guwahati including Dispur, Uzan Bazar and Zoo Road as people sought to buy supplies. Offices and schools remain closed. On Thursday, the state government had announced that schools in Assam would remain closed until December 22.
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws were plying across the city. However, buses remained off roads. Petrol pumps in Guwahati also opened with vehicles waiting in line to refuel.
Police jeeps went around Guwahati making announcements about the easing of curfew.
On Friday night, senior minister in the BJP government Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "Curfew in Guwahati is likely to be relaxed from tomorrow. PWD workers are working overtime to clear the debris all over the place across the city due to the vandalism on December 11 & 12. I am personally supervising the work. I just visited some spots to check progress of work.
At least three people have been killed in incidents of police firing in Assam since the violent protests erupted and three railway stations had been set ablaze.
The indefinite curfew was imposed on Thursday evening. ANI reported 26 Army columns had been deployed to Assam to assist Central paramilitary forces in curbing protests.
