Guwahati, April 13: Tension gripped Silchar on Sunday after a massive protest against the Waqf Amendment Act turned violent, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police in areas such as Chamragudam, Berenga, and Old Lakhipur Road.
What began as a peaceful rally from Berenga New Road Point soon spiraled into chaos when a group of unruly youths reportedly joined the procession and began pelting stones at police personnel. In response, police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob.
The protesters carried placards and shouted slogans denouncing the Act as “anti-Islamic” and vowed to intensify their agitation if the law is not repealed.
Despite the presence of multiple police barricades along key routes—including Old Lakhipur Road, Water Works Road, Kalibari Road, and Fatak Bazar—protesters forced their way through, leading to confrontations with security forces.
Cachar SP Numal Mahatta, Additional SP Subrata Sen, and other senior officers rushed to Kalibari Point—a major intersection connecting Janiganj, Sadar Thana Road, and Dewanjee Bazar—to prevent the protestors from advancing further. A commando battalion was also deployed to bring the situation under control.
“We organized a peaceful rally against the Waqf Amendment Act. We strongly oppose the law as it is anti-Islamic. We condemn the stone-pelting incident. Those who attacked the police will not be spared, and we welcome any legal action against them,” said one protestor.
Cachar SP Numal Mahatta said they used reasonable force to disperse the unruly mob. Initially, the rally was peaceful, but some miscreants mixed with the crowd and attempted to disrupt public order.
“We managed to control the situation,” he said.
He added that around 300-400 people had gathered and assured that all individuals involved in disturbing the peace would be dealt with as per the law.
