Violence during anti-CAA protest in Aligarh and Delhi

Feb 23, 2020
Aligarh: Anti-CAA protest turns violent in Aligarh, Internet blocked
(20:27)
Delhi/Aligarh, Feb 23 (IANS) There were clashes during the the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) turned on Sunday in Delhi and Aligarh where people staged protest in response to a call for Bharat Bandh by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad.

The bandh has been called against the Supreme Court ruling on quota for dalits and Citizenship Amendment Act, the NRC and NPR.

There was a clash between two groups during which stone pelting took place in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur area near Jaffarabad on Sunday evening, following which the police fired tear gas shells. Trouble started after local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra decided to hold a rally in favour of the law, said a PTI report.

A group of around 500 people, mostly women, began a protest outside the Jaffrabad metro station against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens on Saturday night. The protest continued on Sunday, prompting the Delhi Metro authorities to close the entry and exit gates of two stations –Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur.

Senior Delhi Police officials said the stone pelting took place for a short period. “We brought the situation under control quickly,” Joint Commissioner of Police (eastern range) Alok Kumar told the Hindustan Times.

IANS adds that the trouble in Aligarh started in the evening after the women sitting on protest were asked to move from there.

Many shops, two-wheelers and police barricades were set ablaze and stone pelting was reported from Babri Mandi, Ghas-ki-Mandi and Upperkot.

The police lathicharged the protesters and also used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

The administration has also blocked Internet services in the area from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

A huge crowd has gathered to protest against the CAA and the NRC at Shahjamal Idgah here. Women protesters have been removed from Upperkot Kotwali area. The crowd has been chanting anti-government slogans.

Several Bhim Army workers were also present among the protesters at Delhi Gate and Upperkot area.

The police said the women started throwing stones at police vehicles. The police said they have identified several students of Aligarh Muslim University who are involved in the stone pelting incident.

Heavy police force has been deployed at Delhi Gate and Upperkot.

deployed at Delhi Gate and Upperkot. IANS