Citizenship Act Protests Today: India Takes To The Streets, Defying Clampdowns

Two people were killed in police firing in Mangaluru today in clashes that took place during protests against the new citizenship law.

Simultaneous protests took place in multiple cities on Thursday with thousands-strong crowds of students, activists and others defying prohibitory orders to voice their dissent against the newly amended citizenship law.

Violence too was reported in some parts, notably in Lucknow and Patna, and hundreds were detained across the country—including in Delhi and Bengaluru.

Authorities resorted to barricading and clampdown on mobile services, including an unprecedented one in Delhi. Protesters faced tear-gas shelling and police batons in Uttar Pradesh after incidents of arson and stone-pelting. In Bengaluru, historian Ramachandra Guha was among those detained.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prevents assembly of more than four persons at a location, remained in effect in several states.

Opposition parties also joined forces to attack the Modi government on the new law which they said goes against the "idea of India", even as the ruling BJP asserted there would be no rethink on implentation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and that the National Register of Citizens, or NRC, would also be brought in.

Read on to find out how India reacted to the contentious policies on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will take out a rally on Friday against the Congress government in Rajasthan for opposing the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in the state.

BJP state secretary Mukesh Dadhich said there will be a rally and demonstration from Shaheed Smarak to Civil Lines to protest against the Rajasthan government's decision. Later, a delegation of BJP leaders, including BJP state president Satish Poonia, will submit a memorandum to the governor.

Refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP National Vice-President Avinash Rai Khanna and Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, Gulabchand Kataria, will be present during the protest, Dadhich said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the government has insulted the soul of India by suppressing its voice and preventing peaceful protests by shutting down mobile services and metro stations.

"This government has no right to shut down colleges, telephones and the internet, to halt metro trains and to impose Section144 to suppress India's voice and prevent peaceful protests. To do so is an insult to India's soul," he said on Twitter.

His message came on a day when the government shut down internet services and closed as many as 16 metro stations in Delhi amid protests by some groups and Left parties in the national capital.

Gandhi is currently on an official tour of South Korea.

Police lobbed tear gas shells, resorted to baton charge and fired in the air to disperse anti-Citizenship Act protesters in Mangaluru, as thousands of demonstrators hit the streets in many cities and towns across Karnataka on Thursday defying prohibitory orders.

Scores of people including historian Ramachandra Guha were among demonstators who were detained and later released. Vehicles were set on fire and stones hurled at police personnel as protesters allegedly went on the rampage in Mangaluru.

Police retaliated by firing in the air to warn them after tear gas shells and baton-charge proved futile. Religious preachers too made a fervent appeal to people through loudspeakers of a place of worship not to resort to violence.

The Mangaluru Police Commissioner has imposed curfew with immediate effect till the midnight of Friday in central sub-division of the city covering five police stations, a top district official told PTI.

Prohibitory orders clamped in Bengaluru under section 144 of the CrPC had no effect as people in large numbers came out onto the streets opposing the CAA and the NRC.

Sensing deterioration of the law and order situation, district authorities in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Belagavi, Hubballi, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Chikkaballapura imposed section 144 for the next three days.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said his government will take "revenge" on those involved in the violence over the amended Citizenship Act by auctioning their property to compensate for the losses.

"There is no place for violence in a democracy. In the name of opposing the CAA, the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Left parties have pushed the entire country to fire,” Adityanath said.

"There was violence in Lucknow and Sambhal and we will deal with it strictly. Properties of those involved in damaging public assets will be seized and auctioned to compensate for the losses. They have been captured in video and CCTV footage. We will take 'badla' (revenge) on them," he said.

Protesters pelted stones, torched vehicles and faced tear-gas shells in Lucknow and some other parts of Uttar Pradesh as police struggled to contain the fallout of the amended citizenship law.

The scattered incidents of violence were reported from Lucknow's old city and parts of Sambhal and Mau districts.

Internet services remained suspended for at least part of the day at various places, including Aligarh, Sambhal, Mau and Azamgarh districts.

Section 144 of the CrPc, which bans the assembly of people, had already been in force in the entire state for several days now.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that said the state government will make those who damaged property pay for it. He said a dozen vehicles, mostly two wheelers, were set afire.

Samajwadi Party and Congress MLAs held protests in the state assembly complex against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. The party’s workers also defied the ban on protests in several districts. Their protests largely remained peaceful.

Teachers from the Aligarh Muslim University, the scene of violence on Sunday, also took out a protest march. Shopkeepers in some areas of the city briefly downed shutters in support. Traders in many markets shut shop early as reports of violence in the old city came in.

Police fired tear-gas shells in old Lucknow's Madeyganj area as protesters smashed vehicles parked outside a police post. About 20 people were taken into custody.

In Hasanganj area, policemen dodged stones hurled by protesters. They had a tough time tackling protesters in some other parts of the old city as well. At Lucknow's Parivartan Chowk, close to the district magistrate's office, police faced brickbats and the van of a television crew was reportedly damaged.

Accusing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress of carrying out a misinformation campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala said it would carry out a week-long, state-wide campaign to explain that the amended law does not affect any Indian citizen, including Muslims.

Talking to reporters after the BJP's state-level workshop held in Kochi, the BJP's Kerala General Secretary MT Ramesh said "jan jagrata sadas programmes" would be organised in 14 district centres and all assembly constituencies in Kerala from Dec. 23-31.

The BJP would also organise seminars, door-to-door campaigning and meetings of socio-cultural leaders to convince people about the need for the law.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in the United States, has shared India's perspective on Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, with members of U.S. Congress, the ministry said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that outreach to foreign government on the contentious issue will continue. He downplayed the decision of some Bangla-desh ministers to defer their visits to India, saying much should not be read into rescheduling of these meetings.

At a briefing, the spokesperson also maintained India's stand that Pakistan in is illegal occupation of parts of India when asked about reports that Islamabad was trying to alter status of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Challenging the Narendra Modi government to go for a United Nations-monitored referendum over the amended Citizenship Act and the National Register for Citizens, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the BJP will have to quit if it fails such a "mass vote".

Adressing a rally at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress chief said that the BJP was trying to brand the protests against CAA as a fight between Hindus and Muslims in the country.

"Just because BJP has got the majority doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. If the BJP has guts, it should go for a United Nations-monitored referendum on the issue of Citizenship Amended Act and the NRC," Banerjee said. "If the BJP loses this mass vote, then it should step down from the government.”

Five Delhi metro stations, including Vishwavidyalaya and Patel Chowk, are now open for public, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said on Thursday evening.

"All entry and exit gates of Vishwavidyalaya, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Lok Kalyan Marg are open," the DMRC tweeted. The busy Rajiv Chowk metro station is also now open for public after being closed for almost two hours.

These metro stations were closed due to anti-Citizenship Act protests earlier in the day.

Kerala will fight for protecting the Constitution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday, and condemned detention of Left party leaders in Delhi and historian Ramachandra Guha in Bengaluru during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Vijayan also alleged that the National Democratic Alliance government was displaying an authoritarian tendency that was not witnessed even during the Emergency period.

"We strongly condemn the act of detaining CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, politburo members Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, CPI general secretary D Raja in Delhi and historian Ramachandra Guha in Bengaluru," Vijayan said.

He also said the true emotion of Indians could be "seen in the mass protest and anger against those who are murdering the constitutional values".

"I salute those who have come forward to protect the freedom, secularism and democracy of the country. Kerala has already declared we will stand in front and fight for protecting the Constitution...," he tweeted.

In an attempt to allay fear among the Muslim community regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday said “protecting your interest is our responsibility”.

Calling for peace, amid protests in various parts of the state defying prohibitory orders, against the CAA, he alleged Congress's role in the demonstrations and warned them of consequences.

"I appeal to the minority Muslim brothers, this law will in no way affect you, protecting your interest is our responsibility. Kindly cooperate, maintain peace and order," Yediyurappa said.

Alleging the Congress was behind the protests, Yediyurappa said that it is because of people like Congress MLA UT Khader such things are happening, and if they continue in the same way, they will have to face the consequences.

Khader had recently claimed that the state would "blow up in cinders" if the Yediyurappa government tried to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens turned violent in Mangaluru on Thursday with demonstrators hurling stones at police personnel leading to lathicharge, police said.

Protesters hit the streets, defying prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC that bans assembly of more than four people. Some of the protesters were holding placards which read "Withdraw CAA and NRC" and "CAA Is Against Constitution".

With stones being hurled, police made a lathicharge to disperse the protesters, police said. Protesters donning helmets were seen hurling stones at policemen.

Shops in the area were shut. There was no traffic movement.

Anti-Citizenship Act protestors offered roses to security personnel at the Jantar Mantar on Thursday, saying police can baton charge them as much as they want but their message is "love in return for hatred".

Some lawyers participating in the demonstration also offered legal assistance to protestors in case they are detained by the Delhi Police.

A large number of protestors, including students and activists, gathered at the Jantar Mantar on Thursday against the new legislation after they were not allowed to hold demonstration near the Red Fort and Mandi House where prohibitory orders have been imposed.

Thousands of people on Thursday protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan, the place where in 1942 Mahatma Gandhi told British rulers to quit India.

The gathering included workers of political parties, students and also a smattering of Bollywood personalities, who made out a strong case against the amended Act and the National Register of Citizens, or NRC.

Noted freedom fighter GG Parikh, 94, who participated in the Quit India movement in 1942, was present at the August Kranti Maidan. Also in attendance were politicians Raj Babbar, Hussain Dalwai and Milind Deora. College students, IT professionals and members of various communities also participated in the protest.

Film writer Shahid Mirza asked the crowd what would they choose: Ambedkar or Golwalkar, Bhagat Singh or Savarkar, to which the crowd responded: “Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh".

Actor Sushant Singh thanked students for participating in the protests. "We will follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi and we will fight with non violence," he said.

Protesters shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. "Tanashahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won't work)," they said.

Thousands of students from various parts of the city, members of various communities and political parties were seen marching towards the Maidan carrying placards, banners and handbills in their hands.

Similar protests were held in Pune, Nagpur, Malegaon, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Osmanabad in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the Akhil BHaratiya Vidyapeeth held pro-CAA marches in Pune and Aurangabad. A similar protest in favour of the Act was held at Churchagte, Mumbai.

The Mumbai Traffic Police advised commuters to take alternate routes and diversions around August Kranti Maidan and issued traffic restrictions from Nana Chowk and Kemps Corner. Drones, riot control police and, SRPF personnel were deployed at the historic Maidan.

Ahead of a scheduled demonstration against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and National Register of Citizens, All India Institute of Medical Sciences' administration warned its students, resident doctors, faculty and staff on Thursday against holding any protest or strike within the premises of the institute.

The administration, in its memorandum issued on Thursday, warned that any violation will lead to disciplinary and other actions.

A candlelight march and poetry recitation against the new citizenship law and NRC is scheduled to be held in front of the JLN Auditorium in AIIMS. The Resident Doctors' Association has, however, denied having called any such demonstration.

Hundreds of activists of Democratic Youth Federation of India took out a protest march to Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, the official residence of the governor.

Raising slogans against the Centre, some of the protesters tried to jump the barricade, placed in front of the Raj Bhavan, and entered the high security area.

Police had to use water canon many times to disperse them but the activists squatted on the road and continued the protest.

Governor Arif Muhammed Khan was away for a function when the protest was held.

Protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Delhi impacted citizens in Gurgaon and Noida, where several companies asked their employees to work from home and cautioned against joining demonstrations.

While prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were in place in Uttar Pradesh's Noida, a massive traffic snarl trapped thousands of commuters on Delhi-Gurgaon highway.

Some of the multinational companies in Gurgaon asked their employees to remain vigilant when venturing out and cautioned them against engaging in social media debates and demonstrations, employees of multiple firms told Press Trust of India, on the condition of anonymity.

Around 20 flights of IndiGo airlines were cancelled at the Delhi airport due to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in certain parts of the national capital.

“Due to traffic restrictions and to accommodate passengers reaching late to airport, we have rescheduled and curtailed our schedule in and out of Delhi by approx. 20 departures,” the airline said in a statement.

Indigo said it is monitoring the situation to check whether further cancellations will be required. Customers who are affected can be rebooked at no additional cost.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, will be implemented, and so will National Register of Citizens, BJP Working President JP Nadda said after meeting Sikh refugees from Afghanistan in New Delhi on Thursday.

He said BJP's rivals are protesting for vote-bank politics while ignoring the plight of minorities of three neighbouring countries living in India.

"Those who are opposing the citizenship law should meet them. These people have been living in India for 28-30 years but can't admit their children in schools or buy a house as they do not have citizenship. Our rivals cannot see anything beyond their vote bank politics," Nadda said.

"India is marching ahead under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will continue to do so. The CAA will be implemented, so will be the NRC in future," he said.

Violent protests broke out in Lucknow against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, on Thursday afternoon when a mob pelted stones and torched vehicles parked outside a police post.

DGP OP Singh said police had to fire tear-gas shells to control the situation in Madeyganj area. About 20 people have been taken into custody, he added.

Tension was palpable in some other areas, especially the Muslim-dominated Old City areas, and police officials were having a tough time maintaining law and order. Senior officers were camping in the areas disturbed by protests.

Several teachers of the Aligarh Muslim University held a silent march opposing the Citizens (Amendment) Act, 2019, on Thursday, days after the institute witnessed police crackdown against its students who were agitating against the new law.

The protestors, including a large number of women teachers, marched from the AMU Teachers Club to the Purani Chungi crossing and circled the campus.

"We want to convey to the people of India that our struggle against the Citizens (Amendment) Act will continue peacefully within the democratic framework of the system," AMU Teachers Association secretary, Professor Najmul Islam told PTI.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and the police on a public interest litigation seeking setting up of a fact-finding panel to look into violence at Jamia Millia Islamia University during protests against the Citizen (Amendment) Act, 2019.

A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel, however, declined interim protection to students from coercive action including arrest. Lawyers chanted "shame shame" after the high court declined students interim protection.

The court's decision came while hearing six petitions seeking medical treatment and compensation for injured students in the protests against CAA over the past few days.

Scores of people, including writer and historian Ramachandra Guha, were detained during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Bangalore and different parts of Karnataka on Thursday.

Protests were held at several places of the State, including Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Hassan, Mysuru and Ballary where police detained demonstrators who violated prohibitory orders.

Guha was detained near the Town Hall in Bangalore, where he said it was "absolutely undemocratic" that police were not allowing even a peaceful protest, which is the democratic right of the citizens.

He was taken away by police personnel and led to a vehicle parked nearby.

People from various parts of the city converged near Sunehri Masjid in Old Delhi, after being pushed back by police from the Red Fort, to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, on Thursday.

Owing to the prohibitory orders imposed in the national capital, Delhi Police detained protesters who reached the Red Fort to protest against the CAA and placed barricades to stop others from reaching there.

After being pushed back, they converged near Sunehri Masjid, where slogans of 'Hum Honge Kamyaab', 'Inquilab Zindabad' filled the air. Slogans of 'CAA Se Azaadi and NRC Se Azaadi' were also raised by the crowd, which included locals from Old Delhi and East Delhi and students.

Mohammad Kazim, an organiser, said 20-22 buses, carrying protesters, who were detained, were taken to various locations.

There were others who alleged that political leaders were trying to hijack the protest. "We won't budge from here. Politicians are diluting our protest. Our goal was to protest at Red Fort and no one is willing to go anywhere else," said Abid Ahmed.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday closed entry and exit gates of 19 stations, including the busy Rajiv Chowk, for commuters in view of protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Earlier in the morning, DMRC had closed gates of seven stations, including Jamia Millia, Jama Masjid and Munirka. Seven more were closed soon after, followed by others in quick succession.

"Entry & exit gates of Rajiv Chowk are closed. Interchange facility is available at this station," DMRC said in a tweet at 2:20 pm.

Earlier, the DMRC had tweeted that Janpath station's gates were also closed and that trains will not be halting there. Before Janpath, it had closed Barakhamba Road and Mandi House stations. Other closed stations included Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market.

The gates of Central Secretariat were also closed but interchange facility was available there for passengers. Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh, Lal Quila, Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Vasant Vihar have also been shut.

Sources told PTI that said the entry and exit gates were closed so that people going to protest venues could be dissuaded. The stations were closed as protest against the amended Citizenship Act escalated in the national capital on Thursday.

Police on Thursday baton-charged some people who gathered in Sardar Baug area in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens, or NRC.

A police official said they dispersed the protesters to maintain law and order as those who had gathered were not given permission to hold the protest. The protest was organised by Left parties, including the Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist) and organisations associated with them.

"We had not given permission for this protest. We dispersed them to maintain law and order," a police official said.

The Congress on Thursday accused the government of muzzling the voice of the people through "draconian measures" such as shutting of internet services and imposing prohibitory orders.

The Congress said the BJP should be ashamed of this as it is the democratic right of every Indian to protest.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra warned that "the more the government tries to suppress the voice of people, the louder it will become".

She said the government has shut metro stations and internet services in Delhi and have imposed Section 144 of CrPC.

A public bus was set ablaze and another damaged as protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act turned violent in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district.

Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said one state roadways bus was set on fire in Chaudhary Sarai area of the district on Thursday afternoon while another was damaged. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

This is the first incident on attack on state-run buses in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of violent protests against CAA.

Section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting unlawful assembly is in force in the state and no permission for any gathering has been given for Dec. 19, Uttar Pradesh Police Chief OP Singh had said.

Earlier, defying prohibitory orders, Samajwadi Party leaders held a protest outside the Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow. They gathered outside the State Assembly building in the morning ahead of a sitting, despite tight security arrangements and shouted slogans against the contentious legislation.

Protesters were detained in Red Fort area of Delhi and parts of Bangalore as they were in violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure imposed in the areas.

Section 144 of the CrPC restricts gathering of more than four people in an area where it is imposed.

In the area around Red Fort, scores of protestors were dragged into buses by police in a bid to clear the area. Leader Yogendra Yadav was also detained.

In Bengaluru, scores of people, including writer and historian Ramachandra Guha, were detained during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, in different parts of Karnataka on Thursday.

Authorities clamped Section 144 of the CrPC in various parts of the state, including Bengaluru and Mangaluru, with immediate effect on Wednesday evening. It will be in force till the midnight of Dec. 21.

Mumbai Police on Thursday issued a traffic advisory in view of the Citizenship Act protests at August Kranti Maidan today. The traffic diversions are applicable from 12 noon to 10:00 pm today.

Bharti Airtel Ltd. on Thursday said it is resuming mobile services across Delhi, after they were suspended in several parts of the city on a government directive.

There is no official word from other telecom operators on whether their services have been restored in the national capital.

“Have been bound by government's orders, and abiding to it,” Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal told BloombergQuint when asked to comment on the internet shutdown.

Amid anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the city, services were suspended in parts of Delhi, including walled city areas of north and central districts, Mandi House, Seelampur, Jaffarbad, Mustafabad, Jamia Nagar, Shaheen Bagh and Bawana, following a directive from Delhi Police earlier in the day.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday hit out at the Centre over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and asked how and where the government intended to settle Hindu immigrants in the country.

He also accused the BJP-led central government of being biased towards Karnataka on the border dispute with Maharashtra over Belgaum. He was replying to a debate in the Maharashtra Assembly here on Governor BS Koshyari's address.

Targeting the government over the new citizenship law, Thackeray said, "I would like to know how and where the Hindus from other countries are going to be settled. I don't think you (Centre) have a plan for it."

Thackeray's party Shiv Sena had earlier supported the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, but staged a walkout during voting on it in the Rajya Sabha, saying there was no clarity on questions raised over it by the party.

Scores of people, including students, demonstrated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens in Chandigarh on Thursday.

The protesters have gathered near the grounds outside the Sector 20 mosque and will take out a march. They also plan to submit a memorandum to Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore to express their resentment against the CAA and the NRC.

A student protester said that they were also protesting in a show of solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and several other universities across the country.

West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya were peaceful on Thursday while agitators blocked rail and road traffic during a bandh called by Left-wing student organisations in Bihar.

No fresh incident of violence over the new citizenship law has been reported so far in West Bengal. Stray incidents of clashes between groups supporting the amended Citizenship Act and those opposing it were reported on Wednesday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been at the forefront in opposing the new citizenship law and the NRC, is scheduled to hold a protest rally in Esplanade area in the heart of Kolkata.

The Left parties are also scheduled to hold a protest march against the new citizenship law from Ramlila Maidan to Lady Brabourne College in the city. Intellectuals are slated to take out another protest march from Ramlila Maidan to Hogg Market.

Normalcy returned to Guwahati, while the curfew in Dibrugarh was relaxed for 14 hours since 6:00 am. The curfew imposed in the city on Dec. 11 in the wake of protests against the amended Citizenship Act was lifted on Tuesday.

No fresh incidents of violence have been reported so far in Assam.

Curfew was relaxed for 14 hours in Meghalaya capital Shillong but mobile internet services remain suspended, an official said. Curfew was relaxed from 6:00 am in areas under Lumdiengjri and Sadar police station limits of Shillong, an order issued by East Khasi Hills District Magistrate MW Nongbri said.

A resolution seeking implementation of the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya will be tabled in the Meghalaya Assembly during its special session during the day.

Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in and around the Assembly premises in Rilbong area of the hill town to prevent any untoward incident during the session, East Khasi Hills District Magistrate M W Nongbri said.

Left leaders D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Nilotpal Basu, Brinda Karat and others were detained at Mandi House in Central Delhi during an anti-Citizenship Act protest on Thursday for defying prohibitory orders imposed by the Delhi Police in the area.

"We are being detained," CPI general Secretary D Raja told PTI just before he was put into a bus by the police. Earlier, scores of agitators were detained at the Red Fort where another protest by students and activists was set to begin. Swarajya Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav was among those detained there, officials said.

Amid protests against the amended Citizenship Act, internet, voice and messaging services by telecom service providers including Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio were suspended in parts of Delhi-NCR following instructions from the police.

According to the order, services were suspended for locations including walled city areas of north and central districts, Mandi House, Seelampur, Jaffarbad, Mustafabad, Jamia Nagar, Shaheen Bagh and Bawana.

"In view of the prevailing law and order situation, it is hereby directed that communication of all types i.e. voice, SMS and internet, be halted from 0900 hours to 1300 hours in Cell IDs/BTS (base transceiver stations) covering the following areas for 19-12-2019," said the order issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, New Delhi.

“As per instructions from government authorities, voice, Internet and SMS services are currently suspended in your location,” Bharti Airtel representative tweeted a reply to a complaint on Twitter. The tweet was later deleted.

Both Airtel and Vodafone Idea officials confirmed to BloombergQuint that services to some parts of Delhi have been blocked on government orders.

Locals Congress leaders sat on a hunger strike in Pune, Maharashtra, on Thursday to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the police crackdown on students of the Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. They said the government was trying to divide the country by bringing in the new citizenship law.

Several Congress functionaries, led by city party unit president Ramesh Bagve, sat a hunger strike on Fergusson Road in the morning.

Bagve condemned the police "brutalities" on students of Jamia Millia Islamia university on Sunday after their protest against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens, or NRC. "We condemn the CAA as the government is trying to create a divide in the country by such an Act," he alleged.

Scores of protesters including students were taken into preventive custody in different parts of the city on Thursday when they were planning to hold protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, police said.

They were secured as there was no permission to hold any form of protest including rallies and processions, police added.

Those detained include over 50 students of the University of Hyderabad.

The protests were planned in different parts of the city including near the Charminar at the Old City in Hyderabad. The city has been witnessing sporadic protests by various organisations including students and political parties against the CAA for the past few days. They have also been protesting the police crackdown against Jamia Milia Islamia University students in Delhi.

Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act resulted in huge traffic snarls across Delhi NCR during the morning peak hours on Thursday, with the Delhi-Gurgaon route virtually choked with vehicles.

"Police have placed barricades and are checking vehicles coming from Gurgaon to Delhi due to which the traffic is affected on the stretch," the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

Traffic is heavy in the carriageway from Delhi Gate to General Post Office due to Swabhiman Rally, the police said. Traffic is also affected on the Subhash Marg, Peeli Kothi, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Red Fort and Old Delhi Railway Station.

Authorities are tweeting regular updates on the traffic situation.

Two exhibits touching upon the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, and National Register of Citizens, or NRC, have been closed for public viewing at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa.

While the festival organisers did not comment on the move, a source told PTI both the illustrations, curated by contemporary artist Sudarshan Shetty, were barred for viewers on Wednesday when the festival was underway.

The exhibits were part of an artistic installation, titled 'Look outside the House', curated by Manguluru-based Shetty for the festival which began on Sunday.

One of these illustrations had a visual depiction of Miyah verse, a poetry of Assamese genre which reflects anger over discrimination against Assamese Muslims, a source said. Another exhibit by Shetty, which was closed down for viewing, involved liberty for visitors to draw graffitis of their choice with black ink on blank canvases.

In the last few days, some visitors wrote slogans against CAA and NRC on the canvases, the source said.

Historian Ramachandra Guha and many others were detained on Thursday for staging a demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC at the Town Hall in Bengaluru, in defiance of the prohibitory orders imposed in the city.

Police said the protesters violated prohibitory orders clamped in the city against any protest or demonstration. Reacting to his detention, Guha said it was "absolutely undemocratic" that police were not allowing even a peaceful protest, which is the democratic right of the citizens.

The Communist Party of India too staged demonstrations in the city against the CAA and NRC.

Defying prohibitory orders, Samajwadi Party leaders held a protest outside the Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow on Thursday against the amended Citizenship Act. They gathered outside the Assembly building in the morning ahead of a sitting, despite tight security arrangements and shouted slogans against the contentious legislation.

With protests planned by various groups in different parts of the state against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday called for peace and tried to allay fears among the Muslim community regarding the law.

The chief minister had on Wednesday declared that his government will "hundred percent" implement the Citizenship Amendment Act in Karnataka.

"I appeal to the minority Muslim brothers, this law will in no way affect you, protecting your interest is our responsibility. Kindly cooperate, maintain peace and order," Yediyurappa said. "We have not given permission for any agitation in favour or against the law, and Section 144 (prohibitory orders) were in place.

"Things are normal for now, there is no problem, no one should organise any programmes in this regard and every one should maintain peace...police are monitoring things," he added.

Members of Left wing student organisations squatted on railway tracks disrupting movement of trains while activists of another outfit vandalised an ambulance and burnt tyres during a bandh called by Left parties in Bihar on Thursday.

The bandh, also being supported by a number of small parties, has been called in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed countrywide implementation of National Register of Citizens.

Railway sources said traffic was restored after the protesters were chased away.

The Delhi Police made 12 fresh arrests in connection with the violence during protests in the northeast part of the city against the amended Citizenship Act, officials said on Thursday. The police had arrested nine people on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the violence.

Scores of protestors were detained by the Delhi Police near Red Fort when they tried to take out a march in defiance of the prohibitory orders imposed there to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Swarajya Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav was among those detained, officials said.

Protestors, which included activists and students, were dragged into buses in a bid to clear the area. Holding placards and shouting slogans, the protesters allowed themselves to be escorted to the buses.

"I know many of our mates are being detained, despite that many have gathered here. The citizenship of this country cannot be divided and this is our protest call today," Yadav said.

Two protests are scheduled in the national capital, one by students and activists and the other by left parties. The two marches are to meet at Shaheen Park near ITO.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Dakshina Kannada district till the midnight of Dec. 21 in the backdrop of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh has enforced prohibitory orders in the entire district in view of the possibility of the law order situation and public peace getting vitiated.

The police have information about certain organisations having given call for Bharath Bandh on Thursday and Friday in protest against implementation of CAA.

As several areas falling within the city police limits are considered to be sensitive, the police department is apprehensive about the chances of law and order as well as public peace getting disturbed if protests and processions were organised.

Delhi Police on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 near the Red Fort ahead of a protest against the Amended Citizenship Act, officials said. Lahori Gate, Kashmere Gate and Kotwali police stations will come under this order, they said.

Police has already denied the permission for the protest near the Red Fort citing law and order issues, but the protestors said they will go ahead with the march.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday closed gates of 16 metro stations in view of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Earlier in the morning, the DMRC had closed gates of seven metro stations, including Jamia Millia, Jama Masjid and Munirka.

"Entry & exit gates of Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the DMRC tweeted. The gates of Central Secretariat were also closed but interchange facility was available for passengers.

Entry, exit gates of Vasant Vihar and Mandi House Metro stations in Delhi are also closed. Interchange facility available.

Normal life is back on track in Assam with the state remaining peaceful after several days of violent protests against the new citizenship law.

The curfew imposed in Dibrugarh has been relaxed for 14 hours since 6 a.m. on Thursday but mobile internet services remained suspended, officials said.

The curfew imposed in Guwahati on Dec. 11 was lifted on Tuesday following improvement in law and order, they said.

Businesses and banks in Guwahati were open and vehicles plied the roads but schools and colleges were closed.

Flight operations and railway services have resumed in Guwahati while flights to and from Dibrugarh airport were also operating as per schedule, the officials said.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), which is spearheading the agitation against the amended Citizenship Act, has planned sit-ins on Dec. 21 and Dec.23 and rallies on Dec. 24, 26 and 28.

Islamic outfit Popular Front of India's Assam unit chief Aminul Haque and another office bearer were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged role in the violence during protests over the citizenship law, police said.

The Congress, NCP and various other parties have formed a front and are organising a protest here on Thursday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Thursday.

These parties have come together under a front, called 'Hum Bharat Ke Log', which will hold a protest at the August Kranti Maidan, a release issued by the front said.

It dubbed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and NRC as "unconstitutional and discriminatory".

Besides the Maharashtra units of Congress and NCP, the Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM, JD(S), Peasants and Workers Party of India, Muslim League and various citizen organisations will also take part in the protest.

The front, in its release, said Dec. 19 is historically significant as it was in this day in 1927 that freedom fighters Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan and Roshan Singh went to the gallows.

They symbolise the rich heritage of the country's freedom struggle and communal harmony led by Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders, it said.

"The Constitution, drafted by Dr BR Ambedkar, is being violated and is under attack. This is the reason that the entire country has chosen this day to condemn the unconstitutional and divisive laws of the BJP government," it said.

West Bengal was peaceful with no fresh incident of violence over the new citizenship law reported so far on Thursday, police said.

However, stray incidents of clashes between groups supporting the amended Citizenship Act and those opposing it were reported on Wednesday.

Five persons were injured when crude bombs were hurled at a protest march taken out against the new citizenship law in North Dinajpur district, a police officer said.

The agitators had blocked NH 34 for two hours against the incident.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Bengaluru and Mangaluru in the backdrop of the protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

The orders in Bengaluru would be in force for three days starting from 6 AM on Thursday morning to Dec. 21 midnight. The ban in Mangaluru would be for two days from Thursday morning till Saturday midnight, the commissioners of police of the two cities said in their separate orders.

No one will be allowed to carry out protests, demonstrations, burst crackers or display weapons, the orders said.

Bengaluru police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao told reporters here that none should organise protests in the city from 6 AM tomorrow to midnight of December 21.

Anyone violating the orders will be dealt with an iron hand, he said. “There will however be no restrictions on schools, colleges, malls, markets, bus services, metro rail, autorickshaws and cab aggregators.”

Rao said the orders were imposed as many violent incidents had taken place during protests as against the Citizenship Amendment Act in various parts of the country, where public property was damaged.

Some social media handles are being closely monitored by police to check spread of wrong information in the national capital amid protest over the amended citizenship law, officials said on Wednesday.

A number of miscreants involved in Tuesday's violence in North-East district of Delhi were identified and action will be taken against them after the assessment of video footage received from drone cameras.

"We are monitoring some social media accounts to check spread of misinformation. Appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found violating the laws," a senior official said.

The situation in Delhi is peaceful by and large, but prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 have been imposed in some localities in North-East Delhi, the official said.

Dubbing the amended citizenship law as "divisive" and violative of constitutional provisions, the Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to rescind the legislation.

The party also demanded a judicial probe into "police excesses" on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Nawada seminary.

In its memorandum, signed by its both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, the BSP said that a judicial probe be initiated on the "illegal action" of the Delhi Police against a "peaceful" protest organised by the students. It also said that the President should withdraw the "unconstitutional, illegal and divisive law".

"Our MPs have opposed the bill both in the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha, specially pointing out that it was unconstitutional and illegal and based on religion. It is also against Article 14 and 21. We had requested the government not to pass such a law.

"The lathi charge and the attack on students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Nawada University by the police while they were protesting against this law should be probed," the memorandum said. PTI

In Maharashtra Assembly, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has objected to a Congress leader’s comments that the amended Citizenship Act should not be implemented in the state. Later, Speaker Nana Patole expunged all remarks related to the new law being "unconstitutional".

After the House assembled for the day, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said the amended Citizenship Act should not be implemented in the state. However, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis objected to Chavan's demand.

"Both the Houses of Parliament have passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. This (state) government can't decide not to implement it," he said.

Nationalist Congress Party’s Jitendra Awhad objected to it and said any law which is available in public domain can be discussed in the House. "This House has previously discussed POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), so it also can discuss CAA," he said.

Congress MLA Amin Patel also supported Chavan's demand and said, "This Act is not about Hindu or Muslim, but about rich and poor, it should not be implemented here."

Amid arguments continuing over the issue, the House was adjourned 10 minutes.

Later, when the Maharashtra Assembly reassembled, noisy scenes continued following which Yashomati Thakur, who was in the chair, adjourned proceedings for another 10 minutes.

The "opposition" was "spreading violence" in Delhi after sensing defeat in upcoming assembly polls, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also national convener of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, said on Wednesday.

Kejriwal claimed that the AAP was headed for a huge victory in Delhi, which has scared the "opposition". "The whole country knows who is capable of causing riots," Kejriwal said, appealing to Delhiites to defeat such forces and maintain peace.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has started her third protest march in as many as days against the amended citizenship Act from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade in Kolkata.

The state was largely peaceful on Wednesday with no fresh incident of violence over the new citizenship law reported, while Assam also remained calm, officials said.

A senior police officer and two other personnel were injured when a group of agitators hurled crude bombs at them in Sankrail area of Howrah district in West Bengal on Tuesday night.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and top AIADMK leader K Palaniswami defended his party's support to the Citizenship Amendment Act in Parliament saying the law will not affect any Indian, to whichever religion one may belong.

"The Citizenship Amendment Act will not impact any Indian living in India, whichever religion they may profess," he said in his first reaction to the reworked law after protests by students and opposition parties broke out in Tamil Nadu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have amply clarified that the law will not affect any Indian citizen, the chief minister told reporters in Chennai.

"They have clarified in both Parliament and through the media..this will not affect Indians at all...this amendment will have no bearing for any Indian and still you are repeating the question," he said.

Tension prevailed in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area, which witnessed violence on Tuesday following protest over the Citizenship Amendment Act, even as police maintained a tight vigil to ensure that the situation remained under control.

Officials on Wednesday said prohibitory orders have been imposed in northeast Delhi as a precautionary measure. Under the orders, assembly of four or more people is prohibited. According to locals, there was underlying tension in the area after protests turned violent on Tuesday.

Police were patrolling the area to ensure situation remains peaceful. Six arrests have been made so far, police said. Three FIRs were registered in Seelampur, Jafrabad and Dayalpur police stations in connection with Tuesday's incident.

Five persons were arrested for Seelampur and Jafrabad incidents, while one was arrested late night for the Dayalpur incident. Police took 18 persons into preventive custody. According to police, the men were taken into preventive custody since there was a possibility of them indulging in mischief.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a public interest litigation seeking setting up of a fact-finding committee to look into the recent violence at Jamia Milia Islamia University.

The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Rekha Palli and the court allowed it to be listed on Thursday.

The plea has sought judicial inquiry into the action taken by the police, including allegedly firing at students. It also sought proper medical treatment and compensation for the injured students.

• Supreme Court issues notice to the Central Government on pleas challenging Citizenship Amendment Act.
• There are total of 59 petitions in the top court which have challenged the Act.
• The Attorney General for India Justice SA Bobde to be present for the hearing on Jan. 22.

The Delhi Police has arrested six people in connection with the violence that ensued in Seelampur following protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Two FIRs were registered in connection with the case on Tuesday and six people were arrested on Wednesday, police said.

A section of students of the Madras University here continued their protest for the third day on Wednesday against the amendment to the Citizenship Act.

Defiant students said they will continue their agitation. Meanwhile, police personnel continued to be deployed on the campus.

Police personnel, who had entered the campus on Tuesday, said they had done so for the "safety of the students."

The two students were picked up for questioning over allegedly inciting students of affiliated colleges to join the stir at the varsity's Marina campus. The varsity, according to the protesting students, has declared holiday till Jan. 2.

Curfew was relaxed for 14 hours in Shillong on Wednesday even as the ban on mobile internet services will remain in force, officials said.

The curfew was relaxed from 6 a.m. in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Sadar police station limits, an order issued by East Khasi Hills District Magistrate MW Nongbri said.

Curfew will be reimposed in these areas from 8 pm. .till further orders. Banks, markets and shops were open and vehicles were plying on the roads. Citizenship law protesters will be organizing a prayer meeting at Students Field later in the day.

The state cabinet on Tuesday had approved a resolution to bring the state under the Inner Line Permit regime. The resolution will be tabled at the special session of the Assembly on Thursday.

No fresh incident of violence over the amended citizenship law was reported in West Bengal on Wednesday morning, police said.

However, a senior police officer and two other personnel were injured when a group of agitators hurled crude bombs at them in Sankrail area of Howrah district on Tuesday night.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to take part in a protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 from Howrah Maidan to Dorina Crossing in Esplanade area of Kolkata on Wednesday. She held two protest marches in north and south Kolkata on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The state has witnessed pitched protests against the citizenship law since Dec. 13. Police has stepped up vigil across the state and as many as 354 protesters were arrested for violence.

Normalcy returned in Guwahati while the curfew imposed in Dibrugarh was relaxed for 14 hours since 6:00 am on Wednesday.

The curfew imposed in Guwahati on Dec. 11 in wake of protests against the amended citizenship law was lifted on Tuesday following improvement in law and order, officials said. No fresh incidents of violence have been reported in Assam on Wednesday.

Businesses and banks in Guwahati were open and vehicles plied the roads but schools and colleges were closed. Mobile internet services remained suspended.

Flight operations and railway services resumed in Guwahati on Tuesday while flights to and from Dibrugarh airport were also operating as per schedule, officials said.

The All Assam Students' Union will organise the third and final day of its 'Mass Satyagraha' against the amended Citizenship Act in Latasil field in Guwahati.

Entry and exit gates at all Delhi Metro stations have been opened, normal services have resumed, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, entry and exist gates of Jafrabad and Maujpur metro stations remained closed for over seven hours due to violence in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area following protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The gates of these stations were closed around 3:00 pm, according to DMRC.

Besides these two stations, the DMRC also tweeted that "all entry and exit gates of Welcome, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar were opened". The entry and exit gates of Seelampur were also open, it said. Gates of the five stations were closed at around 5:45 pm on Tuesday.

With inputs from ANI

The first investigation report filed by the Delhi Police in connection with the Jamia Millia Islamia incident states that a total of 75 tear gas shells were used by police to disperse the mob at the university. About 7-8 students and miscreants were pelting stones from inside the university gates.

The FIR also states that police had entered into the campus with limited force to identify miscreants and for safety of students.

With inputs from ANI

The Supreme Court of India will on Wednesday hear more petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

On Tuesday, hearing a batch of petitions regarding the Jamia violence, the apex court directed the petitioners to approach the high courts in the matter. The high court will be at the liberty to pass appropriate orders on arrests and medical treatment if brought to their notice. The high courts will hear both sides of the issue and appoint committees for fact-finding.

In view of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Delhi Traffi Police has closed Road N. 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Kunj for vehicular movement.

People coming from Noida have been advised to the DND Flyover or the Akshardham route to reach Delhi. People going to Noida via the Mathura Road have been advised to take Ashram Chowk, DND Flyover or Noida Link Road. The Okhla underpass going towards Kalindi Kunj is also closed for traffic movement.

With inputs from ANI

The recently enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, will adversely impact people of Assam and the northeast, an association representing the Assamese community in North America said.

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Assam Association of North America urged that the Assam Accord of 1985 be implemented in its entirety, where it should prevail over the Act in case of any conflict.

"The recent passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, causes us concern that it will adversely impact the people of Assam and the northeast," said the association in its letter, dated Dec. 14.

"We see this Act as a threat to the integrity and unabridged continuity of language, culture, demographics and economic wellbeing of the indigenous population of Assam and the northeast," the letter read.

The AANA also urged the prime minister to update the Assam NRC released on Aug. 31, 2019, with corrections necessary to enable full and complete implementation of the accord. "While granting citizenship and settling refugees, take necessary steps to protect and preserve the cultural, social and linguistic identity of the indigenous people of Assam," the letter said.

The Left-backed All India Students' Association has condemned the Delhi Police's action of filing an FIR against three Jamia Millia Islamia students in connection with violence in the area around the varsity on Sunday.

Rather than taking action against police officers, who unleashed violence on students, the Delhi Police has filed FIR against student activists of Jamia, the students’ body said in a statement.

"From AISA, we want to state categorically that we cannot be silenced by these victimising tactics. We are fighting to defend our Constitution. We are fighting to save the secular fabric of India and the citizenship of Indian people," the student body said. "The fight will only get intensified against today's rulers who want to divide the country on communal lines and who want to disenfranchise crores of Indians," it said.

Varanasi Police has issued notice to students of Banaras Hindu University asking them to not take out a march outside the campus to protest the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.

The notice has been issued under provisions of Section 149 (preventing commission of a cognizable offence) of the Criminal Procedure Code, or CrPC, an official said.

The students have also been warned that action will be taken against them if they disobey the notice issued by police, he said.

BHU students had on Tuesday organised a march from the campus' main gate to the Ravidas Gate to demonstrate against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens, or NRC.

Amid the ongoing violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, in West Bengal, Kolkata and Bidhannagar Police have started talking to representatives of different religious groups seeking their cooperation to prevent any deterioration of the law and order situation in the city.

To prevent any untoward incident from disrupting peace and harmony in and around the two cities, police personnel have increased night vigils in their respective areas.

Police stations have been conducting meetings with representatives of different communities since Saturday to explain the need to maintain law and order in their areas, a senior officer of the state home department said.

"We have identified certain areas in the city and neighbouring Salt Lake as quite sensitive. Areas like Tollygunge, Park Circus, Mallick Bazar, Kidderpore, Burrabazar in Kolkata are quite sensitive. We have already interacted with imams of over 35 mosques in the city," a top officer of Kolkata Police said.

"In some areas which have been earmarked as more sensitive, our officers also went from one door to another and spoke to the residents there. All cooperated and listened to us. Hopefully, this will pay off," the officer said.

Areas under Bidhannagar City Police like New Town, Rajarhat, Chinar Park, Baguihati have also been identified as sensitive.

Amid the ongoing unrest in different parts of West Bengal due to the controversial citizenship law, all police stations in the state have been put on high alert to counter any untoward situation. "We assure the people of Bengal that there is no reason to panic. We have set up a 24X7 control room—O33-2214 5486, 4031, 1946—for immediate assistance," said a senior officer.

Weekly offs and all form of leaves of police personnel throughout the state have been cancelled, the officer added. So far, 354 people from different parts of the state have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the ongoing unrest.

The Delhi Police has named former Congress MLA Asif Khan as an accused in its first investigation report in the Jamia Millia Islamia university violence on Dec. 15, officials said. The ex-MLA has been named along with six other persons in the FIR, they said.

The other accused in the case are local politicians Ashu Khan, Mustafa and Haider, AISA member Chandan Kumar, SIO member Asif Tanha, and CYSS member Kasim Usmani, police said.

According to the FIR , police got information that several people will stage a protest march against the Citizenship Amendment Act till the Parliament House and the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union has claimed that a police post was being set up in the campus, and that police personnel were entering the premises like they had done at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.

Sources said the police 'post' is in fact a tent which was being set up so that policemen can sit there and escape the biting cold.

In view of violence during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Jamia Millia Islamia University and eastern Delhi, patrolling has been intensified in the city to maintain law and order, police said on Tuesday.

Group patrolling has been initiated and pickets erected in outer, north and northwest districts of Delhi, they said.

"We have urged people to avoid rumours being circulated on various social media platforms and to maintain law and order and peace in the area," said Gaurav Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North). Pickets have also been installed in sensitive areas to take action against hooligans, if any, he said.

Senior officers from both districts of northwest and outer-north interacted with the people of different areas in this regard, he added. District cyber cells have also been tasked to monitor the activities of anti-social elements on various social media platforms, the DCP said.