Hundreds of activists from Tengakhat, Chabua, Rangsungi and Pulunga units of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), along with local residents, blocked the Balijan main road here in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Friday evening, demanding that peasant leaders Akhil Gogoi, Dharjya Konwar and Sashi Sensua be released.

The protesters took out a rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and also sought the release of Chatra Mukti Sangram Samity leaders Bitu Sonowal and Manash Konwar, among others, arrested recently by police and National Investigation Agency officials during agitation across the state.

The protesters raised banners and placards with anti-CAA messages, shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and burnt tyres on the road.

KMSS leader Dipon Jyoti Phukan, who took part in the protest, said: “The people of Assam will never accept the Act and continue their movement till the law is repealed.”

Phukan also alleged that the Centre and the state had no respect for the people’s peaceful and democratic agitation. “Police and intelligence agencies arrested our leaders unnecessarily and sent them to jail custody,” he added.

The local peasant leader also alleged that false charges are being framed against several protesters and activists at the government’s directives.

“The Act snatches the unique identity, culture, language and demography of Assam. The government should release the arrested leaders immediately without any condition,” he added. Phukan threatened to step up the agitation if the governments do not concede to their demands. Another KMSS leader alleged that the state and Centre had forcefully imposed the Act on Assam and prevented its people from staging democratic protests. Traffic came to a standstill during the two-hour blockade on Balijan main road that connects Tingrai Charilai to Tinsukia.

The Majuli Congress committee took out a rally against the Act on Saturday.

Additional reporting by Devajit Boruah in Jorhat