Anti-CAA Stir: Uttar Pradesh Remains Tense as Death Toll Mounts to 15, Internet Remains Suspended in 15 Districts
The situation in Uttar Pradesh remained grim as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued in various parts on the state including Kanpur and Rampur on Saturday too.
Lucknow, December 22: The situation in Uttar Pradesh remained grim as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued in various parts on the state including Kanpur and Rampur on Saturday too. According to official figures, 15 people have been killed so far during anti-CAA protests. The unofficial number, however, is 22. As tension persists, authorities decided to extend internet suspension in 15 districts till noon on Monday. Why Citizenship Amendment Act+NRC Raise Fear And Concerns: A Multi-Dimensional Take.
Inspector General, Law and Order, Praveen Kumar said that 15 people had died in the state since December 10. The deaths had been reported from Bijnor, Sambhal, Ferozabad, Kanpur, Varanasi and Meerut. On Saturday, one person was killed as fresh violence broke out in Rampur during protests against the CAA. Protesters at Hathi Khana Chowk allegedly resorted to stone-pelting and clashed with the police who responded with a baton charge and fired tear gas shells. CAA Protests: 'Those Born Before 1987 or Whose Parents Are Born Before 1987 Are Indians', Says Government.
In Kanpur, miscreants set the Yateemkhana police outpost on fire during the anti-CAA protest and hurled stones at police. Paramilitary forces were called in to control the situation. In Sitapur, the police indulged in heavy baton charge to disperse the large number of protesters who had come out on the streets. In Muzaffarnagar's Civil Line police station area, the force took similar action after two communities indulged in brick-batting.
While six people were killed in Friday's violence, nine deaths were reported on Saturday. Four deaths were reported from Meerut district, while the boy lost his life in a stampede in Varanasi when a violent mob was being chased by police personnel. Two persons were killed in Bijnor and one each in Lucknow and Rampur. Section 144 remains imposed across Uttar Pradesh. Violence mainly broke out when police stopped people from taking out processions against the CAA.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday met Governor Anandiben Patel and apprised her of the situation in the state in the wake of protests against the CAA. While internet services resumed in Aligarh, in 15 other districts services remain suspended.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2019 08:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).