As the ghost of black flag protests continues to haunt chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, even a three-year-old kid was not spared by security forces on Tuesday in Biswanath Chariali.
In a bizarre incident, security forces made to remove black jacket of a kid, who was brought by his mother to attend an event at Borgang in North Assam’s Bishwanath Chariali.
Locals said the security forces barred the entry of the woman at venue of the event, which was attended by chief minister Sonowal, as her child was wearing a black jacket.
Chief Minister was at the event for laying the foundation stone of Assam’s fourth “Eri Spun Silk Mill”.
Sources said to ensure that no one could wave black flags to Sonowal, the police took this steps so that no one carried black cloth to event.
Massive protests have erupted in the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and black flags are being shown to chief minister Sonowal, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other minister as well as senior BJP leaders wherever they have been going during the last few weeks.
Apprehending that the Citizenship Bill protests could spill over to Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati, the Assam Police on Saturday had taken rigorous steps to ensure that no one carried black cloth to the function.
At the central function of the 70th R Day held at the Veterinary College Playground of the city, multi-layered security was put in place. Metal detectors were installed at all the entry points and each visitor was frisked.
Besides other items, black clothes were strictly prohibited. Police had enquirer if anyone was carrying black handkerchief.
Various black coloured clothes including handkerchiefs, mufflers, ladies shawls and head bands were seized by police from the public going inside to attend the function.
As the news of removing cloth of the three-year-old was spread, the incident got a serious backlash from social media users.
A large number of social media users slammed Sonowal government for this act of police.
Facing flak, the police have ordered an inquiry into the incident. Biswanath SP Rakesh Roshan said no order was issued to remove black shirt of anyone.
“No such order was issued. We have only asked to check if anyone carries any black cloth,” SP Roshan claimed.