CAA protests: Cops heckle protesters in Bengaluru; many detained

The Karnataka state police detained more than 120 protesters who were up against the amended Citizenship Act on Thursday (December 19) morning. Later, the protesters regrouped in the afternoon defying prohibitory issued by the authorities.

While the police on Wednesday (December 18) gave permission for peaceful protests in Bengaluru, they recalled it after imposing Section 144 (ban on large gatherings) for three days starting December 19.

The police detained college students, social activists, historian Ramachandra Guha, and women’s rights activist Geeta Menon. As many as 100 Bengaluru city police and Karnataka State Police personnel were stationed at Town Hall, the centre of the anti-Citizenship Act movement. Anticipating trouble, the police imposed Section 144, but the protests were largely non-violent.

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“What is happening is completely against democracy. Protesting peacefully is our right and they are taking it away. Now, we have no other option but to resist. Mahatma Gandhi did it, we will do it,” Manohar Elavarathi of Swaraj Abhiyan, a socio-political organisation said as the police detained him.

Disregarding their age, gender, and whether one defied the prohibitory orders, the police heckled many of the protesters. Before detaining Guha, the police dragged him while he was giving an interview to a media house.

Similarly, while a student from St. Joseph college was talking to The Federal, the police dragged her mid-way and tried to detain her.

“I was heckled by three police officers. I was literally fearing for my safety as I didn’t want them to detain me. I am shaken by the police’s action against students,” said Aaisha, a student of St. Joseph’s College.

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In another instance, the police beat up an old man who stood away from the crowd but expressed dissent by holding a placard.

Deputy Police Commissioner (Bengaluru Central division) Chetan Rathore, in charge of handling the crowd near  Town Hall, ordered the police to show no mercy and detain anyone who came to protest. He, along with other police officers, beat up even civilians who were not part of the protest.

While all this happened, the overcharged protesters gathered in large numbers and the police couldn’t control the crowd after 1 pm.

“I have been detained by the police for holding a poster of Gandhi and speaking about the constitution to the press,” Guha told NDTV.

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“The police are working under directions from the central government. We are protesting non-violently against a discriminatory act, in a disciplined way,” he added.

Responding to the police brutality, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said police should not take law in their own hands even as he insisted that Karnataka will implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Rajeev Gowda and member of Legislative Assembly moved High Court challenging the police order imposing Section 144 in the city. The Karnataka High Court agreed to hear a bunch of petitions challenging the curfew orders in the wake of Citizenship Amendment Act, on Friday.

When media questioned the Police’s decision to impose Section 144, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Wednesday said “Fundamental rights stop when someone else’s well-being is affected.”

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