Assam: Section 144 Imposed in Sonitpur Over Prophet Row

The Sonitpur district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the entire district to prevent any untoward incident amid violent protests over controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad.

This is the fifth district of the state where the orders were clamped after Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Kamrup. Sonitpur District Magistrate Deba Kumar Mishra has promulgated the prohibitory orders with immediate effect.

Accordingly, assembly of five or more people in public places, carrying of weapons, holding of meetings, demonstrations, processions and sloganeering, and use of loudspeakers have been prohibited.

"It is reported that rumours on social media have led to communal tension in various parts of the country," he said in the order.

On June 11, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the government is keeping a close watch on the law and order situation in Assam following violence in several states over the controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

Protests erupted in several parts of the country over controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad. The Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad and AIUDF leaders have filed separate police complaints in the state against Sharma and Jindal for their remarks.

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