Stone-pelting near CAA protest site in Jaffrabad, police fire tear gas

Clashes erupted between two groups of people at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest site near northeast Delhi’s Jaffrabad on Sunday (February 23) evening, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

The incident took place in Maujpur, where the two groups pelted stones at each other. Unconfirmed reports suggest the clash broke out between the supporters of the contentious legislation and the protesters.

For security reasons, the entry and exit gates of the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station were closed. Gates of the Jaffrabad station were also closed earlier in the day as anti-CAA protests continued on Sunday after hundreds of demonstrators, mostly women, blocked a road near the metro station the previous evening.

The 500-strong group dominated by women staged a sit-in on Saturday night near the Jaffrabad metro station demanding a rollback of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. There was heavy security deployment in the area.

Related news: Anti-CAA protesters block Delhi road, Jaffrabad metro shut

BJP leader Kapil Mishra had called a gathering near the Maujpur traffic signal in support of the amended citizenship law following which a second group had assembled in the area. Later in the afternoon, a clash erupted between the two groups.

Taking to twitter, Mishra said, “We have given a three-day ultimatum to the Delhi Police to get the road cleared. Get the Jafrabad and Chandbagh road cleared”.

In a video tweeted by him where he can be seen addressing the gathering, Mishra said, “They (protesters) want to create trouble in Delhi. That’s why they have closed the roads. That’s why they have created a riot-like situation here. We have not pelted any stone.”

“Till US President is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that we won’t listen to you (police) if the roads are not vacated by then,” he told the gathering.

Aman Sharma (22), a student and resident of Maujpur who was part of the group accompanying Mishra, said they were holding a protest against the closure of roads by those opposing the CAA. “Around 2:30 pm, they (anti-CAA protesters) started pelting stones and glass bottles,” he claimed.

(With inputs from agencies)