Citizenship Act Protests Updates: Demonstrators protest against the citizenship law in Delhi's Seelampur
The Citizenship Act protests turned violent in Delhi's Seelampur area as protesters threw stones at policemen who fired at the crowd and used tear gas shells. Earlier, the Opposition parties continued their protests over the passage of the Citizenship Act. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held another march from 8B bus stand in Kolkata to Howrah.
In Tamil Nadu, Opposition DMK carried out a demonstration led by party chief MK Stalin.
In Delhi, senior Opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, are scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind over the police action against Jamia Millia Islamia students who were protesting against the citizenship act.
Meanwhile, the curfew has been lifted in Assam's Guwahati after 6 days.
Here are the live updates on developments on Citizenship Amendment Act:
19 trains cancelled by Eastern railways amid protests over Citizenship Act
Eastern Railway on Tuesday cancelled 19 trains due to the ongoing unrest across the country over newly-enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
"In connection with law and order problem in the jurisdiction of Northeast Frontier Railway and in New Farakka-Azimganj and Krishnanagar-Lalgola Sections of Eastern Railway, 19 trains have been cancelled for today," Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway said in a release.
Protests intensified across the country after several students were left injured after a protest against the new citizenship law turned violent in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia university area on Sunday.
21 people injured in Seelampur violence over Citizenship Act
Twenty-one people, including 12 policemen and six civilians, were injured in violence that erupted during a protest against the amended Citizenship Act in Delhi's Seelampur on Tuesday, police said.
According to a police officer, two FIRs have also been registered at Seelampur and Jaffrabad police stations in connection with the violence.
Three personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) were injured, the officer said.
Angry protestors torched several motor bikes, pelted stones at police personnel and damaged buses and a police booth in Northeast Delhi's Seelampur area, reported PTI.
Kalindi Kunj route connecting Noida-Delhi to remain closed on Wednesday: Noida Traffic advisoryThe Kalindi Kunj road connecting Noida and Delhi will remain closed on Wednesday and commuters have been advised to opt for alternative routes, the Noida Traffic police said Tuesday evening.
The advisory has been issued in view of a possible demonstration in South Delhi, it said.
"In pursuance of the directions of Additional Commissioner of Traffic Police, South Delhi range, the Kalindi Kunj road will remain closed from 8 am on Wednesday till further orders. This is done in possibility of a demonstration in the region. People are advised to opt for DND or Chilla route to commute between Noida and Delhi," police said on Twitter.
The Noida Traffic police had on Monday also diverted traffic on the Kalindi Kunj route on apprehensions of a demonstration which had resulted in road congestion during peak hours of travel, reported PTI.
4 FIRs registered in Lucknow over students' protests on Monday
Four FIRs have been lodged in connection with Monday's protest against the amended citizenship law at an Islamic seminary and a private university in Lucknow, police said on Tuesday.
Two FIRs each were registered against unknown persons in the Hasanganj police station and the Gudamba police station of the state capital. The FIRs at the Hasanganj police station pertains to the protest by students of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema, while those at Gudamba police station pertains to the stir at the private Integral University.
While the students of the seminary had resorted to stone-pelting at police and faced baton-charge by them, Integral University's students held a "peaceful protest" against the amended law that seeks to give Indian citizenship to non-Muslims persecuted in three neighbouring countries.
Residents of Delhi's New Friends Colony file police complaint over Jamia incident
The Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of New Friends Colony that bore the brunt of the violent protest over the amended citizenship law has filed a police complaint demanding action against "miscreants" responsible for damaging property and "disturbing peace" in the area.
Trouble started in New Friends Colony after violence erupted during a protest by students of Jamia Millia Islamia against the amended Citizenship Act on Sunday evening.
Protestors torched four public buses, two police vehicles, 100 private vehicles and 10 motorcycles as they clashed with police.
Later police entered the Jamia campus and allegedly beat up the students.
The RWA alleged that the "miscreants" created "havoc" in the area and also set on fire government buses and private vehicles, as reported by PTI.
Citizenship Act Protests spread to Madras University
Police enter Madras University where students are protesting against the Citizenship Act. Around 80 students are protesting the new law.
Gates of 6 metro stations reopen In Delhi
Entry and exit gates of Welcome, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Johri Enclave, Shiv Vihar and Gokulpuri stations reopen. Earlier, the DMRC shut these metro stations as violent protests broke out in Delhi's Seelampur
Schools, colleges to remain shut in UP's Mau till further notice
Mau District Magistrate: All schools and colleges in the district to remain closed till further orders, tweeted ANI.
Sonia Gandhi leads delegation to meet President Kovind on Citizenship ActSonia Gandhi leads a delegation of opposition leaders to meet President Ram Nath Kovind over the Citizenship Act. She is being accompanied by Ghulam nabi Azad, Derek O' Brian, Ahmed Patel, Manoj Jha, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Ram Gopal Yadav and others.
Speaking to the media, Sonia Gandhi said, "The situation in the northeast, Jamia Milia Islamia university is a very serious situation. It seems that protests may spread even further. We are anguished over how police treated students in Jamia who were protesting peacefully. Police mercilessly beat up students in Delhi. Protesting is a democratic right. Modi government seems to have no compassion when it comes to shutting down people's voices and implementing legislations that are not acceptable to people."
"Nothing will be gained by violence," tweets Arvind Kejriwal amid violent protests in DelhiArvind Kejriwal appealed to all residents of Delhi "to maintain peace". He tweeted, "Violence of any kind cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. Nothing will be gained by violence. Have to say your words calmly."
Congress to hold torchlight procession in support of Jamia students
In a show of solidarity with the Jamia students and the protesting students in other universities, the Youth Congress will hold a torchlight procession to Parliament House at 6 pm today, reported news agency IANS.
Condemning the assault on the Jamia students, the Youth Congress in a statement said: "This raises the basic question among the masses that how the state suppresses political activities among the universities and how police has become a tool for mass suppression and acts as a deterrent for the rising voice of dissent."
Entry and exit gates of Seelampur Metro Station open
Entry and exit gates of Seelampur Metro Station open. The other six stations remain shut.
Police use drones in Delhi's Jaffrabad
In Delhi, police use drones to monitor the situation after violent clashes broke out between police and protesters in Jaffrabad over Citizenship Act.
7 Metro Stations shut in Delhi following violent protests in SeelampurEntry and exit gates of Welcome, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Johri Enclave, Shiv Vihar, Seelampur and Gokulpuri stations have been closed. Trains won't be halting at these stations, tweeted Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
Police use tear gas to disperse protesters: ANIPolice used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters after a clash broke out between police and protesters in Jafrabad area, during protest against Citizenship Amendment Act. Protesters also pelted stones during the protest.
Two buses have been vandalised.
ANI Input
Breaking: Protests In Delhi's Seelampur, Police lathichargeA protest against the Citizenship Act turned violent in Delhi's Seelampur area as protesters threw stones at policemen who fired at the crowd and used tear gas shells.
According to a senior police officer, the protest began around 12 pm and the people from the area gathered at a prominent crossing.
The protesters shouted slogans against the act, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the government.
The entry and exit gates at three metro stations have been shut, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
Uddhav Thackeray compares Jamia incident with Jallianwala Bagh massacreMaharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has compared the police action in Jamia Millia Islamia university and its neighbouring areas with Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
"What happened at Jamia Millia Islamia, is like Jallianwala Bagh. Students are like a 'Yuva bomb' (young bombs). So we request the central government to not do, what they are doing, with students," Mr Thackeray said.
Mamata Banerjee says "no CAB, no NRC is our slogan" West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leads protest march from Jadavpur to Jadu Babu's Bazar. "Our slogan is 'No CAB, No NRC in Bengal," Ms Banerjee said.
ANI Input
Clothes Don't Reveal Proteters Identity, Says Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee takes dig at PM Narendra Modi for one of his remarks at a Jharkhand rally, says clothes don't reveal identity of protesters.
"Democracy In Dangerous ICU...": Kamal Haasan On Crackdown On StudentsThe brutal crackdown on students protesting the new citizenship law is a slap in the face of democracy and has left that institution in a "dangerous ICU", superstar-politician
Kamal Haasan said today.
"(The young) must understand and question politics... politics is omnipresent and affects all of us. There is nothing wrong with young people being politically aware and asking questions (but) when these questions (are) stifled, then democracy is in dangerous ICU," Kamal Haasan said.
"This issue (referring to the protests against the new citizenship law) is beyond state borders... beyond politics and beyond parties. It is a national issue," he continued.
Internet suspended in UP's Sambhal
Internet services have been suspended in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district till midnight today, news agency ANI has reported.
DMK chief MK Stalin protests against citizenship lawDravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin today staged a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and raised slogans against the Centre and ruling AIADMK government in the state.
Scores of people gathered in support of Mr Stalin.
ANI Input
Over 100 people taken into preventive custody in Kerala: ReportThe police have arrested around 100 people into preventive custody across the state.
The protesters blocked public transport and forced shops to down the shutters in districts of Kannur, Kasargode, Palakkad and parts of Ernakulam.
IANS
AIMIM Workers Charged Under Sedition In Lucknow A FIR filed against AIMIM workers in Lucknow has charged them under sedition charges in Lucknow.
The FIR names 17 people, and 600 unknowns.
Harvard Students Write Solidarity Letter For Jamia StudentsThe students of Havard University have written a letter in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.
"We, the students and affiliates of Harvard University, write in affirmation of the protests against
the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, of India and in deep condemnation of the violent
suppression of student protesters at the Aligarh Muslim University, the Jamia Millia Islamia
University, and elsewhere," the letter read.
Jamia Violence: Police arrest 10
The Delhi police has arrested 10 people in connection with violence that took place in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University and its neighbourhood areas. There's no student among the people who have been arrested.
Urge India to protect rights of minorities: USUS State department, in a letter, has asked India to protect rights of its religious minorities.
"We are closely following developments regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act. We urge authorities to protect and respect the right of peaceful assembly. We also urge protestors to refrain from violence," the letter said
"Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law are fundamental principles of our two democracies. United States urges India to protect rights of its religious minorities in keeping with India's Constitution and democratic values," he added.
354 arrests in West Bengal so far
The West Bengal police on Monday said that it has arrested 354 people across the state to maintain peace and harmony. It also urged the public to contact the police, through the 24*7 control room helpline, in case any person is found violating law and order.
"354 miscreants have been arrested across the state as a part of our endeavour to maintain peace and harmony in Bengal. In case you find anyone or anything violating the law, contact us on the WB Police 24*7 control room helpline," the tweet from West Bengal Police's official handle read.