Thirty-year-old Raeez* spent nearly 260 days in prison after being arrested for participating and alleged rioting in an anti-CAA protest held in Mangaluru in December 2019. While the police failed to show evidence of his involvement in the riots, the arrest shattered his life.

Now out on bail, as Raeez tries to rebuild his life and gain trust among neighbours, the constant threat of the possibility of arrest again anytime without reason or evidence worries him to no end. His problems are aggravated by the fact that he has to do his fish trade in a highly polarised environment in the coastal city of Karnataka.

CAA’s status

Almost a year after the Bharatiya Janata Party led government at the Centre passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, the legislation is yet to come into force. The government failed to notify the rules within the stipulated time and sought extension twice this year.