12 Mar 2024 | 05:07 AM UTC
India: Authorities increase security nationwide as of March 12 after implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act
Heightened security in place across India as of March 12 after implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Localized disruptions certain.
Authorities are increasing security across India as of March 12 in anticipation of widespread resistance to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The CAA, implemented the previous day, will allow persecuted non-Muslim refugees who arrived in India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before Dec. 31, 2014, to apply for citizenship. Anti-CAA activists perceive the law to be divisive and discriminatory to Muslims. In the National Capital Region (NCR), police will adopt a heightened security posture, including hourly patrols in sensitive areas of New Delhi, East and Northeast Delhi, and Shaheen Bagh. Paramilitary forces will also deploy in certain areas, including in parts of Assam and Noida, that experienced related protests and violence in 2019.
Demonstrators will likely hold street marches, rallies, and sit-ins across northeastern states in the coming weeks; protesters may enforce roadblocks and shutdown strikes, especially in Assam and Tripura states. Common gathering venues include educational institutions, government offices, highways, markets, political party offices, public squares, and transport hubs, such as railway stations. Related demonstrations previously have regularly turned violent, with activists engaging in arson and vandalism and attacking security forces and businesses defying shutdown strike calls. Clashes between protesters and security forces are possible; police previously utilized batons, tear gas, rubber pellets, blank fire, and warning shots to disperse unruly mobs in parts of Assam. In New Delhi, police peacefully dispersed a small group of activists at Jamia Millia Islamia University March 11; the university was an epicenter of violent anti-CAA protests in 2019, and clashes in subsequent demonstrations are possible,
Ground transport disruptions, including traffic restrictions, road closures, and route diversions, are likely near all large demonstrations. Protesting groups previously maintained indefinite rail blockades and attacked railway stations in multiple locations across Assam and Tripura states, prompting the cancellation of all regional train services. Activist groups will also likely call for blockades of national highways and interstate roads, especially in areas where any general strikes are occurring; routes that may be affected include National Highways (NH) 8, 17, 37, and 38.
Avoid all demonstrations as a precaution. To the extent possible, avoid communally sensitive areas, political party offices, and prominent religious sites. Monitor trusted local sources for updates on protests. Confirm business appointments, road status, and transport reservations through end-March, especially if operating in northeastern states of India. If violence breaks out nearby, leave the area immediately, and seek shelter in the nearest secure location. Refrain from commenting on religious sensitivities in public or on social media. Carry identification documents to present at security checks; heed all official instructions.
In December 2019, the Indian Parliament approved the Citizenship Amendment Bill, lowering required residency periods for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to apply for Indian citizenship. However, due to widespread and violent resistance against the bill in 2019, the government put off drafting rules for implementation until March 2024, weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to seek a third term.
Besides the perceived discrimination against Muslims, critics also fear the law would trigger an influx of migrants into the northeast region, populated mainly by indigenous tribal communities. Local organizations claim the mass migration of outsiders, especially from bordering Bangladesh, would upset the northeastern states' demographic balance and threaten their cultural, economic, linguistic, and political rights guaranteed under special provisions in the Indian Constitution.
Related protest actions will likely persist in the coming weeks, potentially having a spillover effect on election-related events.
