2 killed in police firing in Mangaluru; CAA protests rock cities across country

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Mangaluru, December 19

Two persons died in police firing during the violent protests against the amended citizenship law in Mangaluru on Thursday, police said even as simultaneous protests raged in multiple cities across the country.

The two who received bullet injuries in police firing later succumbed at a hospital, police confirmed.

The deceased were identified as Jaleel Kudroli (49) and Nausheen (23).

Local government official Sindhu B. Rupeh said there had been clashes between stone-throwing crowds and police in Mangaluru since Thursday afternoon, despite restrictions imposed on public gatherings.

Besides, the two deaths in Mangaluru, a 25-year-old man died of firearm injury which he suffered while passing by a violent protest in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, but police claimed that the death was not linked to the agitation or any police action.

In Delhi, a large number of protesters gathered at the Jantar Mantar after they were not allowed to demonstrate near the Red Fort and Mandi House where prohibitory orders have been imposed by the police.

Two protests were scheduled in the National Capital, one by students and activists and the other by the Left parties. The two marches were to meet at Shaheen Park near ITO.

'Gandhigiri': Protesters offer roses to police

The protesters offered roses to security personnel at the Jantar Mantar, saying police can baton charge them as much as they want but their message is "love in return for hatred".

A large number of protesters, including students and activists, gathered at the Jantar Mantar 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.

Several posters have been put up at Jantar Mantar against the new citizenship law, with one reading -- "Digital India with no internet, 'Janta mange rozi roti, milti hamko lathi gali' (people demand employment but get batons and abuses); save constitution save country."

Left leaders D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Nilotpal Basu, Brinda Karat, activists Harsh Mandher, Prashant Bhushan and others were detained at Mandi House for violating Section 144 CrPC.

"We are being detained," CPI general Secretary D Raja told PTI just before he was put into a bus by the police.

Swarajya Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav, former JNU student Umar Khalid and JNUSU ex-president N Sai Balaji were among those detained.

"I have just been detained from Lal Qila. About a thousand protesters already detained. Thousands on the way. Am told we are being taken to Bawana," Yadav tweeted.

I have just been detained from Lal Qila. About a thousand protesters already detained. Thousands on the way.
Am told we are being taken to Bawana.

साझी विरासत, साझी शहादत, साझी नागरिकता pic.twitter.com/RnkUNjfkzo

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) December 19, 2019

Protesters, 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.

Former Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi was also detained in Delhi during the protest.

After being pushed back by the police from the Red Fort, people 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.

Meanwhile, Delhi borders have been sealed on National Highway 8. MG Road and the old Delhi-Gurugram road have led to major traffic congestions.

In Bengaluru, police arrested historian Ramachandra Guha among others during a protest against the Citizenship law.

The 61-year-old was participating in a protest at the Town Hall in the city where Section 144 was enforced on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday's protest.

Bengaluru mei ye kya ho raha hai!!#CAAProtest https://t.co/ebdhaVKPj8

— Ravi Sisodia ರವಿ ಸಿಸೋಡಿಯಾ (@ravi27kant) December 19, 2019

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 citizens.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and TMC leader Derek O Brien were quick to condemn the detentions with Vadra tweeting, “The more you muzzle these voices the sharper these will become.”

Vadra taunted the government for issuing advertisements on CAA using taxpayers' money saying, “Metro stations are shut, Internet is shut, there’s Section 144 all over. Why’s the Government which has given huge ads on public money afraid of people’s voices?”

मेट्रो स्टेशन बंद हैं। इंटरनेट बंद है। हर जगह #Section144 है। किसी भी जगह आवाज उठाने की इजाजत नहीं है। जिन्होंने आज टैक्सपेयर्स का पैसा खर्च करके करोड़ों का विज्ञापन लोगों को समझाने के लिए निकाला है, वही लोग आज जनता की आवाज से इतना बौखलाएँ हुए हैं कि सबकी आवाजें बंद कर रहे हैं।

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 19, 2019

TMC leader O Brien attacked the government for detaining Guha saying the government is afraid of people speaking the truth.

In Gujarat, the police baton-charged some people who had gathered in Sardar Baug area of Ahemdabad to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.

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 the Left parties, including the CPI and CPI(M), and organisations associated with them.

In Bihar, members of Left-wing student organisations—All India Students Federation and the All India Students Association—squatted on railway tracks at Rajendra Nagar Terminus early in the morning disrupting train movement.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, Internet services were suspended after a public bus was set ablaze and another damaged as protest turned violent, District Magistrate Avinash K Singh said.

“The internet services have been suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent rumour-mongering,” the DM added.

One state roadways bus was set on fire in Chaudhary Sarai area of the district on Thursday afternoon while another was damaged, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said.

In Maharashtra, the Congress, NCP and various other parties have formed a front called 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' and are organising a protest. It will hold a protest at the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai.

West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya, which were at the centre of the stir initially, were peaceful on Thursday.

In Chandigarh, too, members of Muslim community had gathered in large numbers outside the Jama Masjid in Sector 20 to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. 

— With Agencies

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