Following massive protests in Tripura, the BJP-ruled state government has shut down internet and SMS services in the state for 48 hours. The government was forced to bring in the ban, Tripura police found that rumors were being spread about ethnic clashes between tribals and non-tribals in Manu and Kanchanpur areas in the state.

"It has been reported by Director General of Police, Tripura that rumours are being mongered about ethnic clashes between tribal and non-tribal in Manu and Kanchanpur areas. This has created violent situation in the area. It has been noticed that SMS, WhatsApp and social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are being used for transmission of fake images and videos as well as text messages which have potential to incite violence in the State at a larger rate," Tripura government stated in a letter. The prohibition is applicable to press messages also.

Tripura witnessed protests on Tuesday against the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Agitators participating in a bandh called by NESO set a market, where shops were owned mostly by non-tribals, on fire in Tripura's Dhalai district.

However, no one was injured in the incident and the blaze at Manughat market was doused, a senior police officer said. "Security forces have been deployed in the market but the incident has created fear among the non-tribals who owned most of the shops," the officer said.

The bandh has evoked massive response in the tribal areas of Tripura, he said. It threw normal life out of gear in Dhalai, West Tripura and Khowai districts with residents remaining indoors while attendance at offices was thin, the officer said.

Train services in the entire state came to a complete halt and vehicular movement was affected, he said. Bandh supporters blocked an important road near Astable Ground in Agartala at 9.30 am, stalling traffic. "Around 300 agitators were detained peacefully after 45 minutes of their demonstration," the officer said.

The legislation seeks to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who are fleeing persecution there, was passed in the Lok Sabha with 311-80 votes.

However, Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Parliament on Monday that areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTADC) will be exempted from the ambit of the Bill.