Man shot at amid clashes in Aligarh

Aligarh (UP), February 23

A 22-year-old man was shot at by a ‘miscreant’ amid clashes that broke out in the old city area here on Sunday between anti-CAA protesters and the police after incidents of arson and stone-pelting, said officials.

The police fired teargas shells to disperse the mob throwing stones at security personnel in upper Kot area, said Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh. The adminstration suspended Internet services as a precautionary measure. The violence broke out at a site along a road leading to the Kotwali police station where women protesters on a dharna since Saturday were told to leave. “We told them that women protesters were already holding a protest at the Eidgah and they would not be permitted to hold another such protest. Even as efforts were underway to convince women to leave the area, mayhem broke out and brick-batting started,” Singh said.

An electricity department transformer was set afire. Describing the situation as “tense but under control”, Singh said the police were trying to trace those “instigating” the women protesters at Upper Kot .

The injured, 22-year-old Tariq was admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital at Aligarh Muslim University. The doctors described his condition as “serious”. He has suffered a bullet injury in the stomach. The clashes broke out shortly after Bhim Army-led anti-CAA protesters headed to the district collectorate were stopped midway by the police and Rapid Action Force jawans.

Aligarh SSP Rajmuni, who took over charge as the district police only last night, said he was monitoring the situation. “Our channels of communication with protesters are open but it does not mean we will allow anybody to disturb law and order,” he said. — PTI