Lucknow, December 21: The death toll in Friday's violence over the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 11, according to a PTI report on Saturday. The state police, however, confirmed the death of six persons. Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh reiterated that the police did not fire at anti-CAA protesters even as deceased and injured had gunshot injuries. Anti-CAA Protests: Sharmistha Mukherjee Detained Along With 50 Congress Members For Protesting Near Amit Shah's Residence.

Violence broke out in several parts of Uttar Pradesh during large-scale protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Friday afternoon. Reports of stone-pelting, ransacking of public and private properties came from Kanpur, Firozabad's Lalganj area, Bijnor's Naya Bazar area, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar, Bahraich and Gorakhpur. In Deoband, though, the protests were relatively non-violent. Bihar Bandh Over CAA: RJD Workers Block Roads With Cattle, Burn Tyres and Raise Slogans Against Citizenship Amendment Act.

According to reports, protesters allegedly pelted stones at the police, set motorbikes and cars on fire during demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act. In return, the police fired tear gas shells and lathi-charged protesters. Videos have surfaced on social media in which cops are also seen hurling stones and damaging private properties in areas where protesters clashed with police. Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Govt of Using 'Brute Force' to Suppress Dissent Against Citizenship Amendment Act.

State Energy Minister and government spokesman Shrikant Sharma appealed to the state's people to maintain peace and urged Muslims "not to allow themselves be used by vested interests, who have been using the community as a political tool since Independence". As many as 19 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shafiqur Rahman Barq was also booked.

“In preventive action following today’s incidents, police have taken a total of 667 persons into custody,” UP police said in a statement. Internet services have been shut down in 15 districts, including the capital, even Direct-to-Home (DTH) services were also snapped for some time, police added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2019 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).