Former office-bearers of the All Assam Students’ Union in Dibrugarh district on Sunday opposed the Centre’s decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in the state, claiming that the law would lead to loss of Assamese identity, culture and language.

During a meeting held here on Sunday, the former AASU leaders alleged that the central government had “violated” the 1985 Assam Accord by passing the citizenship law and will turn the state “into a dumping ground for illegal migrants”.

Former AASU leader Chandra Saikia, who chaired the meet, said a few former union leaders had joined political parties for their vested interests and had forgotten the emotion and sentiments of the Assamese people after they came to power. “They are now trying to convert jaati (community), maati (land) and bheti (mainstay) into a dumping ground for illegal immigrants,” he added.

Saikia also said the meeting decided to form a Manch consisting of all former AASU members in Dibrugarh district. They also took a decision to form a common platform of all former members in the state.

It also decided to assist former AASU workers who had fallen on hard times.

It also decided to organise a general meeting of the former AASU members of Dibrugarh district at the Rotary community centre here on December 29.

‘Fake news’ arrest

Dibrugarh police arrested Paragmoni Das from Nagaon on Sunday for allegedly posting fake news on the death of a girl in police firing at Bokul Tinali in Upper Assam Dibrugarh district on December 11.

According to police, Das had the same day on his Facebook account posted “fake news” on Sweta Thakuria’s death in police firing and posted that she was the first martyr in the protest against CAA.

Dibrugarh superintendent of police Sreejith Tiraviam told reporters on Sunday, “We registered a case at Lahowal police station against Das and on the basis of the FIR, arrested him. We have an efficient cyber team which has been constantly monitoring rumour-mongering and fake news on social media and the Internet. We have arrested 52 people and registered 71 cases so far against vandalism and violence during Act protests.”

Additional reporting by Avik Chakraborty in Dibrugarh