Shaheen Bagh Protest Site Cleared, Security Tightened Amid Imposition of Section 144 and Delhi Lockdown as COVID-19 Cases Rise
Amid the city lockdown and the coronavirus scare, the Shaheen Bagh protest area has been cleared. A massive police force has been deployed in the area and the site was reportedly cleared after Delhi government imposed Section 144 in the city in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.
New Delhi, March 24: Amid the city lockdown and the coronavirus scare, the Shaheen Bagh protest area has been cleared. According to an ANI tweet, a massive police force has been deployed in the area. The site was reportedly cleared after Delhi government imposed Section 144 in the entire city in a bid to control the spread of the deadly virus. During a curfew 'assembly of any kind for demonstration, procession, protests etc is prohibited.'
On Monday, there were reports that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh have refused to vacate the road despite appeals by the government, police and civil society members over the past two weeks at a time when India is facing a threat from the deadly virus. However, the number of protestors had dwindled since Sunday when the entire nation followed the Janata Curfew from 7 am till 9 pm. The women-led protests were taking place in the national capital since December 15, 2019. Delhi Under Lockdown From March 23 Till March 31 Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, No Private Buses, Autos, E-Rickshaws to Be Allowed.
Check ANI tweet:
The Shaheen Bagh protest began in response to the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in both houses of Parliament on 11 December 2019 and the ensuing police intervention against students at Jamia Millia Islamia who were opposing the Amendment.
Watch video of how Delhi Police clears the protest site:
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country increased tremendously over the last few days. India recorded 75 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, taking the overall toll of COVID-19 patients in the nation to 471. The death toll also jumped to 9 as two infected persons - one each from Kolkata and Himachal Pradesh's Kangra died. As a result of these alarming numbers, more than 30 states and Union Territories have imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2020 08:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).