Lucknow, December 20: At least six protesters were killed in violence erupted during demonstrations in Uttar Pradesh against the Citizenship Amendment Act on Friday. According to reports, two people lost their lives in Bijnor district and one each in Kanpur, Meerut, Sambhal and Firozabad. However, the police claimed that no one was killed in the police firing. Anti-CAA Protests: Sharmistha Mukherjee Detained Along With 50 Congress Members For Protesting Near Amit Shah's Residence.
“We did not fire even a single bullet,” reported NDTV quoting Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police OP Singh as saying. As per reports, dozens of police personnel were also injured in the violent clashes as protesters pelted stones at cops in Meerut. Protesters also vandalised police vehicles and set police station on fire. Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Govt of Using 'Brute Force' to Suppress Dissent Against Citizenship Amendment Act.
Similarly, protesters clashed with police in Firozabad district after Friday prayers. District Magistrate of Ghaziabad informed that internet services to remain suspended till 10 am tomorrow. All schools will remain closed in the district. Internet services will also remain suspended till Saturday in Kanpur.
On Thursday, one person was also killed in Lucknow during alleged police action against protesters. The person, identified as a resident of Sajjadabad area of the city, was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injury. Singh assured that the police would conduct a probe into the death of the youth.
Widespread protests erupted after the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, earlier this month. The CAA provides Indian citizenship only to non-Muslim migrants including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians and Jains.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2019 08:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).