Fresh violence in Kanpur as UP remains volatile over CAA protests

Uttar Pradesh remains volatile with incidents of violence being reported from across the northern state over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act. At least 15 protesters have already died during violent demonstrations in the state and fresh violence have again erupted in Kanpur and Rampur on Saturday (December 21).

Amid a Bandh call in Rampur on Saturday, around 400 to 500 protesters gathered at some distance from the Eidgah in the city and stones were pelted at policemen, officials said. In response, the cops used tea gas shells against the protesters. In the violence, one more protester was killed, suggested unconfirmed reports.

A similar incident was reported from Kanpur, where police personnel resorted to using tear gas shells on protesters who pelted stones during a demonstration.

#WATCH Kanpur: Protesters pelt stone at police, and police fire tear gas shells during protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct in Yateem Khana Police Station area. (deferred visuals) pic.twitter.com/ANPJ3Juu12

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 21, 2019

Praveen Kumar, IG (Law and Order), said since December 10, 705 people have been arrested and 4,500 have been released after preventive arrest in connection with protests over the new Citizenship law in Uttar Pradesh. He said, “15 casualties have happened and 263 police personnel were injured of which 57 personnel received fire arm injuries.”

On Friday, four deaths were reported from Meerut district and two each in Kanpur and Bijnor. An eight-year-old boy was killed in a stampede in Varanasi when a violent mob was being chased by policemen. Besides, violence claimed a life each in Sambhal and Firozabad, the officials said.

Meanwhile, students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University and residents of the area gathered for a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act outside the university gate again on Saturday. They raised slogans of “Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai, aapas mein hai bhai bhai“, “Ekta ka raaj chalega, Hindu-Muslim saath chalega“, “We want justice” and “Azaadi” while demanding repeal of the CAA.

Also read | Anti-CAA bandh called by RJD rocks Bihar; rail, road traffic disrupted

The student leaders made speeches at the protest site where they claimed that CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) are against the constitution and the common people. They claimed that CAA’s implementation would be ‘disastrous’ for the country just as demonetisation was three years back.

Earlier on December 15, several protesters and policemen sustained injuries during an agitation against the CAA near the JMI University. At least three buses were set on fire and other public properties were also damaged.

In latest happening in Uttar Pradesh, protesters clashed with the police in Rampur this afternoon. According to sources, the protesters broke police barricades and threw stones at the police, who responded with batons and tear gas.

Also read | Govt will avenge destruction of public assets during protests: Adityanath

Reports of at least 11 people injured and death an eight-year-old child’s death have been doing rounds following the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from various states. Deaths were reported from Bijnor, Sambhal, Firozabad, Meerut, and Kanpur on December 20 even as Delhi, Lucknow, Mangaluru, and Mumbai remained tense. With this, the death toll across the country in two days over the new law stands at nine.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Mangaluru today where two people were killed in police firing.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meet Governor Anandiben Patel over the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.

At least 45 people, including 13 police officers, were injured in the protests in New Delhi where the Bhim Army organised a massive protest. Its chief Chandrasekhar Aazad had initially given the police the slip but was later caught. It was reported that he daringly leapt across terraces to evade the police and reach the venue. Delhi police on Saturday said the Dalit leader was arrested in connection with Friday’s violence in old Delhi’s Daryaganj, where he was reportedly detained while leading a march to Jantar Mantar.

Also read | Lucknow turns battleground as anti-CAA protesters clash with cops

The UP government has extended Section 144 cross the state and also cut internet services in various parts. In UP, at least 10 cities witnessed violence over the contentious law. Violence was reported from Muzaffarpur, Aligarh, Firozabad, Pilibhit, Mau, Ghaziabad, Azamgarh, Kanpur and Bulandshahr. Incidents of unrest were reported from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s constituency, Gorakhpur as well.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) will take out a protest rally in Hyderabad.

The northern districts of Kerala, including Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Malappuram, and Kannur remained mildly tensed as the police checked vehicles and set up pickets to prevent the crossing over of people to neighbouring Mangaluru in Karnataka.

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