Fresh protests in Delhi, 140 detained

TNS & PTI

New Delhi, December 23

Around 140 persons were detained on Monday as fresh protests by students and activists against the amended citizenship law erupted in several parts of the national capital. Protests were held outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan, Rajghat, India Gate, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Assam Bhawan and Delhi University where people voiced their opposition against in the law.

Students of JNU, DU and other universities tried to demonstrate outside the UP Bhawan against the police’s action in the state, but were detained before they could reach the protest venue.

As many as 46 students, who were demanding the resignation of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath over the issue, were detained and taken to Mandir Marg police station.

Former JNU Students’ Union president N Sai Balaji and All India Students’ Association (AISA) Delhi unit president Kawalpreet Kaur were among those detained the moment they reached the spot. The protest at the Jamia Millia Islamia entered its eight day on Monday, with hundreds continuing to throng the streets outside the university. Students from several schools in Noornagar, Batla House and Okhla also attended the protests on Monday.

In the evening, teachers and research scholars from JMI also took out a candle march at the India Gate, seeking rollback of amendments made in the citizenship law.

Ninety-three students, including 52 women, were detained from outside Assam Bhawan on Monday when they were protesting against the amended citizenship act. They were demanding the release of RTI activist Akhil Gogoi who was arrested amid violent protests against CAA across Assam.  Those detained were taken to the Mandir Marg police station, police said.

Meanwhile, an alliance of civil society organisations and activists demanded that the government launch a high-level judicial inquiry into alleged police excesses against the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.

Court dismisses Bail plea of 15

A Delhi court on Monday dismissed bail pleas of 15 persons arrested in connection with the violence in Delhi’s Daryaganj area and extended their judicial custody by two weeks