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Policeman killed, 35 people wounded during "communal" riots over contentious "anti-Muslim" citizenship law, ahead of US President Trump's arrival in New Delhi as part of two-day visit.

A man supporting a new citizenship law throws a petrol bomb at a Muslim shrine during a clash with those opposing the law in New Delhi India, February 24, 2020. (Reuters)

A policeman was killed and dozens of people wounded amid clashes in New Delhi on Monday as thousands demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law rioted for several hours before US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to the city.

Police used tear gas and smoke grenades but struggled to disperse the crowds, as both sides hurled stones and turned a wide boulevard into a rock-strewn battle zone, about 11 miles from where Trump will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks on Tuesday.

One police constable was killed, a police official told Reuters news agency, declining to be named since he isn't authorised to speak to the media.

An official at Delhi's GTB Hospital said more than 35 people injured in the clashes were undergoing treatment. Reuters partner ANI reported that one civilian had also died, but Reuters was unable to confirm it. PTI news agency reported three civilian deaths.

Reuters reporters saw multiple vehicles set on fire, metal barricades torn down and thick smoke billowing as supporters of the new law clashed with opponents. A small contingent of police was vastly outnumbered.

One video posted on social media showed crowds of men shouting "Jai Shree Ram" or "Hail Lord Ram", a revered Hindu deity, as they went on a rampage.

Within minutes, a pattern on running battles had been established.



Pro-CAA folks, most seemingly Hindu, on one side.



Anti CAA folks, most seemingly Muslim, on the other.



Here's how it went down. pic.twitter.com/mtnr6USU3R — Devjyot Ghoshal (@DevjyotGhoshal) February 24, 2020

Challenge to BJP's secular credentials

India's capital has been a hotbed of protests against the law, which eases the path of non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-dominated countries to gain Indian citizenship.

This has led to accusations that Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are undermining India's secular traditions.

The BJP denies any bias against India's more than 180 million-strong Muslim minority, but objectors have been holding protests and camping out in parts of New Delhi for two months.

Protests have broken out across India since the law, that critics say discriminates against Muslims, came into force in December. At least 30 people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in clashes with police.

Monday's clashes were among the worst seen in New Delhi since the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) began in early December.

The latest round of violence came as Trump began his first visit to India as U.S. president, addressing a rally in Modi's home state of Gujarat.

Trump landed in New Delhi late on Monday.

Can you please recognise who is police and who is rioters.

both are pelting stones. Has Police duty and responsibility chance?

This is the country which looking for a $5 trillion economy.👎#AmitShahResign #DelhiPolice #DelhiViolence #Delhi pic.twitter.com/UhjpHQdQEz — Daud Khan (@DaudKhan3283) February 24, 2020

'Go ahead and throw stones'

The clashes stretched over a nearly kilometer-long road and lasted from early afternoon until well into the evening, leaving at least half a dozen people injured.

Police on Monday imposed an emergency law prohibiting any gatherings in the violence-hit areas.

The protesters appeared to be divided along religious lines, and some repeatedly hailed Hindu god Ram while pelting stones at the predominantly Muslim group opposed to the new law.

A Reuters witness saw at least one Muslim man and a burqa-clad woman beaten by dozens of pro-law protesters with sticks and iron rods.

Earlier on Monday, local politician Yogendra Yadav described the violence as "communal" and urged police to intervene.

But for several hours, Reuters witnesses saw the outnumbered policemen mostly stand beside those backing the citizenship law, a majority Hindu group, and do little to quell the violence.

The police also stood by as a mob vandalised a store with a Muslim name, pulling out vehicles and setting them alight.

"Go ahead and throw stones," one policeman shouted to protesters backing the law, during one of the running battles.

A ruling party leader flanked by a senior police official issues an open warning. No one has acted against him -neither the police or his party. 24 hours later, violence in east Delhi spirals, the police seem adrift. #chronology https://t.co/dEYS9zMSjf — Sreenivasan Jain (@SreenivasanJain) February 24, 2020

Trump touts India's diversity

On side streets, young boys drained fuel from motorcycles to make petrol bombs, and protesters pulled up paving stones and flung construction material at opponents.

"We are in support of the CAA. If they want to protest, they should go somewhere else," said a protester who gave his name as Amit.

India's junior home minister G Kishan Reddy said the violence was a "conspiracy to shame India globally" during Trump's visit.

"We have deployed additional forces, and we will do everything to bring law and order under control," he told Reuters partner ANI.

The violence came as Trump touted India's unity in the Gujarat state. At the rally in Ahmedabad city, Trump praised India's history of religious tolerance, saying many faiths "worship side by side in harmony."

Trump told a gathering of more than 100,000 people that "India is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of every human being".

Source: TRTWorld and agencies