Four buses were set on fire by a large number of people and two fire officials were injured in stone-pelting as the protests against the newly enacted Citizenship Act entered the third day in the national capital on Sunday. Locals of the Sarai Julema in the Jamia Nagar area clashed with police. The trouble began when organisers of a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, turned violent. The situation turned critical when a bus was burned by the protestors and police got into action. A photographer was injured in the stone-pelting that took place during the confrontation between protestors and police. Huge traffic snarls were experienced throughout the south Delhi area, from Ashram to Friends Colony to Kalindi Kunj. Police diverted traffic from the vicinity as pitched battles continued. For over an hour Mathura Road opposite New Friends Colony's both carriageways were blocked by the demonstrator. and Delhi Traffic Police tweeted that all movement was closed from Okhla Underpass to Sarita Vihar due to the demonstration.
Here are the highlights on the protests against Citizenship Act:
At least 35 injured students were brought to the Holy Family Hospital in Delhi after a protest march against the citizenship law held by Jamia Millia Islamia students ended in violence this evening.
All detained students from Kalkaji and New Friends Colony police station have been released
Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today called the government "coward" after clashes between the police and students of Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi over the amended citizenship law escalated into student protests at many universities across the country."
Delhi Police on Sunday alleged that some people who were part of the agitation against the amended citizenship law came prepared for arson and torched vehicles.
Cops and protesters clashed at the Aligarh Muslim University this evening hours after violence at the Jamia Millia University in Delhi.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said nearly 1,500 people had begun a protest-march from Jamia university area around 3 pm but police stopped them near New Friends Colony and requested them to return and protest peacefully.
Protestors tried to block roads despite the force's request, according to police, reported PTI.
"When police pushed protestors back, they resorted to arson and torched two bikes, four DTC buses on Mata Mandir Marg. Protestors started pelting stones on police personnel near Holy Family Hospital," said another police officer.
"Some groups in the mob came prepared for arson," he claimed.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed the entry and exit gates of 13 stations for several hours in view of the violent protests near New Friends Colony, reported PTI.
In a series of tweets, the DMRC said entry and exit gates of GTB Nagar, Shivaji Stadium, Patel Chowk, Vishwavidyalaya, Vasant Vihar, Munirka, RK Puram Metro stations were closed on the advice of the police.
According to DMRC, trains did not stop at these stations.
Earlier, DMRC had closed the entry and exit gates of the Sukhdev Vihar Metro station in view of the violent protest in southeast Delhi against the amended Citizenship Act.
"As advised by Delhi Police, entry & exit gates of Sukhdev Vihar and gate no. 3 of Ashram have been closed. Trains will not be halting at Sukhdev Vihar," DMRC tweeted.
Entry and exit gates of Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar and Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh have also been closed with no trains halting at these stations.
Dozens of students of the country's only Urdu university gathered on the campus around midnight and raised slogans against the police action on Jamia and AMU campuses, according to IANS.
Protests swept campuses across the country against the police crackdown at Jamia Milia Islamia after this evening's violence over the new citizenship law. Students at the Aligarh Muslim University clashed with the police after their solidarity march was stopped. By midnight, Hyderabad's Maulana Azad Urdu University, the Benaras Hindu University and the IIT Bombay raised their voices. In Delhi, the Police Headquarters looked set for an all-night protest, as hundreds gathered in response to a call from the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The trouble started this evening after a protest march by the Jamia students ended in a pitched battle with the police, vandalism and torching of vehicles. The police, which used batons and teargas to contain the violence, later barged into the university and detained around 100 students.
- West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) December 15, 2019
Delhi: Protesters, including Jawaharlal Nehru University students, hold demonstration at Delhi Police Headquarters, ITO, over Jamia Millia Islamia university incident. pic.twitter.com/0SfXYvt2Zm
- ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019
Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East: This mob was violent. Around 6 police men have been injured in the stone pelting. We are yet to ascertained the identities. pic.twitter.com/RHF3GCaCUy
- ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019
Traffic closed from Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj due to demonstration at Shaheen Bagh, says Delhi traffic police.
Traffic Alert
- Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 15, 2019
Traffic movement is closed from Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj due to protest/demonstration at Shaheen Bagh. Traffic is diverted from Sarita Vihar towards Road no. 13A & from Apollo to Road no 13.
Spoke to Hon'ble LG and urged him to take all steps to restore normalcy and peace. We are also doing everything possible at our end. Real miscreants who caused violence shud be identified and punished.
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2019
Delhi: Police detains protesters from outside Jamia Millia Islamia University's Gate no. 1. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct pic.twitter.com/zAXSSAvMbf
- ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019
Atul Bora, President of Asom Gana Parishad, has said that the party has not taken a decision on filing a petition against the Citizenship Law.
- Road blocks and train disruptions have been reported from North 24 Parganas.
- The National Highway 34 leading to north Bengal had been blocked in multiple places in North 24 Parganas district.
"No amount of censorship, internet bans, PR and diversions can cover up the anger witnessed across the country on this government's new Citizenship law. The protests are happening across regions and communities, who are all united against this attempt to divide India."
The protesters felled trees and burnt tyres to obstruct key national and state highways on Sunday, IANS reports.
The protesters even started a 'picnic' on the National Highway 34 after putting up a roadblock, it adds.
The curfew was also relaxed from 7 am to 4 pm in Dibrugarh west, Naharkatia, Tenughat and some other places in the district from 7 am to 4 pm.