Anti-CAA protesters removed from Shaheen Bagh, other places

New Delhi, March 24

People protesting against the citizenship law at Shaheen Bagh and other places were removed by the Delhi Police on Tuesday morning amid the Covid lockdown in the national capital, officials said.

A total of nine protesters, including six women, were detained at Shaheen Bagh and taken to a nearby police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said.

The agitators, mostly women, had been on a sit-in at the site for over three months to protest the newly amended Citizenship Act.

People were requested to vacate the site. Action was taken when they refused to move, Meena said. About 50 protesters, including men, were at the venue. “Most of the protesters vacated the site after the police made an appeal, but a few refused. So, the police detained them,” a volunteer at the site said. “A decision on resuming the protest will be taken after the situation comes under control,” he added. On Sunday, during Janata Curfew, only five women were at the site, while others had left their slippers as a symbol of solidarity. The women were taking all precautions amid the Covid outbreak and sanitisers had been arranged at the venue to ensure hygiene, the volunteer said. Unidentified men had hurled “inflammable substance” near the site on Sunday, but none of the five women present there were injured.

Other protest sites in the national capital, including Jafrabad in Northeast Delhi, Turkman Gate in Central Delhi and Hauz Rani in South Delhi too, were cleared by the police. Protesters at Hauz Rani vacated the site at around 7 am, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur. — PTI