Live Updates: Hundreds Detained As Anti-CAA Protests Erupt Across Country, 1 Dead In UP From 'Alleged Firearm Injury'

Defying unprecedented prohibitory orders across regions, simultaneous protests broke out on Thursday in multiple cities against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), prompting authorities to detain a large number of activists and students and clamp down on mobile services in parts of the national capital and other states.

While the protests remained largely peaceful at most places with the agitators depending on slogans and placards to express their opposition to the new law and what they called 'barbaric police action' against students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, there were reports of violent clashes and arson in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Rail and road traffic was hit across several states.

Barricades were set up by police in and around the national capital, entry and exit gates at 21 Delhi Metro stations were shut and mobile voice, messaging and internet services were suspended in some parts of Delhi.

Despite raging protests, the ruling BJP and the government maintained there won't be any rethink on implementation of the new law.

Follow all the live updates here:

8:12pm: One person has died, allegedly due to a firearm injury that he sustained during the protests in Lucknow, say reports.

Uttar Pradesh DGP, OP Singh in Lucknow: Situation is normal in the city, some incidents occurred at places where protesters had declared they will gather. They pelted stones at us & set ablaze OB vans of media. We chased them & fired tear gas, situation has been controlled. #CAA pic.twitter.com/6MuTUfEWKs — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2019

7:08pm: Curfew announced in 5 police station limits of Mangaluru Commissionerate limits (central sub division of Mangaluru) till Friday midnight

Actor Farhan Akhtar at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai where protest against #CitizenshipAct is on: To raise your voice against something is democratic right, people are raising their voices & I'm of view that there seems to be a certain amount of discrimination in what is happening pic.twitter.com/97AYTnVaxO — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

6:42pm: Violence in the name of democracy not acceptable: UP CM

6:40pm: Properties of those involved in damaging public assets will be seized and auctioned to compensate for losses: UP CM

6:39pm: Those involved in violence have been identified through video, CCTV footage; 'we will take revenge from them', says UP CM Adityanath

6:36pm: "This government has no right to shut down colleges, telephones & the Internet, to halt metro trains and to impose Section 144 to suppress India's voice & prevent peaceful protests. To do so is an insult to India’s soul," tweets Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

6:12pm: Mamata Banerjee says BJP should go for a United Nations-monitored referendum on CAA. "Just because BJP has got the majority doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. If the BJP has guts, it should go for a United Nations-monitored referendum on the issue of Citizenship Amended Act and the NRC," Banerjee said.

5:54pm: Delhi Police say it is closely monitoring social media, Whatsapp groups to check rumour mongering, and will take legal action against those spreading rumours

5:47pm: No untoward incident reported during anti-CAA protests on Thursday: Delhi Police

5:42pm: Delhi Metro has opened the entry and exit gates of 18 stations. Entry and exit gates at Vishwavidyalaya, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Chandni Chowk, Barakhamba, Mandi House, Pragati Maidan, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate, ITO, Janpath, Khan Market, Vasant Vihar and Munirka are now open

5:19pm: BJP wants to make Citizenship Amendment Act a fight between Hindus and Muslims, says Mamata Banerjee

5:18pm: BJP was founded in 1980 and is asking for our citizenship documents of 1970, says Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata rally

5:10pm: Some political parties trying to incite students, women in the name of religion, says Reddy

4:58pm: Violent protests only in few places in Delhi, Lucknow; no need to worry, says MoS Home GK Reddy

4:56pm: The Home Ministry will review the security situation in the country amid violent protests against the CAA, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, MoS for Home G Kishan Reddy and Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla are expected to attend the meeting.

Maharashtra: People gather in protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct, at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/BAOtYLBAHa — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

4:31pm: Entry and exit gates at Rajiv Chowk metro station have been opened

4:19pm: Entry and exit gates of Delhi Gate have been closed

4:10pm: In view of the current heavy traffic congestion along the Gurugram-Delhi highway, resulting in inconvenience to passengers, reissue/no-show/cancellation and refund charges for all domestic & international tickets for travel from Delhi on 19th Dec 2019 shall be waived, announces Air India

4:04pm: Protests against CAA turn violent in Lucknow

Lucknow: Protest against #CitizenshipAct turns violent in Hazratganj. Protesters pelted stones, Police resorted to lathi charge. A media OB van has also been set ablaze. pic.twitter.com/1W8LVdwvov — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2019

3:42pm: Delhi HC Refuses Interim Protection To Students From Jamia Arrest



The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government and the police on a PIL seeking setting up of a fact-finding committee to look into violence that erupted near Jamia Millia Islamia during protests on Sunday. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel, however, declined interim protection to students from coercive action including arrest.

3:39pm: Nineteen IndiGo flights have been cancelled and 16 others delayed as crew members were stuck in traffic jam at NH-8, a Delhi airport official said.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder Chairman, Bharti Airtel, on internet services halted in some parts of Delhi : We are bound by the order of the government. We are following their order. pic.twitter.com/Q7Qtd6u97H — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

3:17pm: Vehicles set ablaze in Lucknow's Hasanganj, reports ANI

Lucknow: Vehicles set ablaze in Hasanganj during protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. pic.twitter.com/x2rhSsNnQx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2019

3:08pm: Amended citizenship law will be implemented, so will be NRC in future, says BJP working president JP Nadda after meeting refugees from Afghanistan

3:01pm: Internet services suspended in UP's Sambhal district after violence over CAA

2:29pm: Entry and exit gates at Rajiv Chowk metro station closed. Interchange facility is available at this station, tweets DMRC

2:27pm: Assam BJP legislators tell CM Sarbananda Sonowal they are facing ire of people due to amended Citizenship Act: MLA Padma Hazarika

2:20pm: Police baton charge anti-CAA protestors in Ahmedabad

2:17pm: Protesters being detained at Delhi's Bhagwan Dass road

Karnataka: Protests continue at Town Hall in Bengaluru against the #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. pic.twitter.com/V6LqbqJSNA — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

2:04pm: Protesters torch two UP government buses in Sambhal, reports news agency PTI. Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said one state roadways bus was set on fire in Chaudhary Sarai area of the district on Thursday afternoon while another was damaged.

Sambhal: A State Transport bus set ablaze, allegedly during protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/rtjO2rEF1A — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2019

1:49pm: Entry & exit gates of Janpath metro station closed, tweets DMRC

1:45pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemns detention of historian Ramchandra Guha and others

1:30pm: Filmmaker Aparna Sen takes part in a protest against CAA and NRC in Kolkata

Kolkata: Film-maker Aparna Sen takes part in a protest against Citizenship Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) . #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/MzTvHz8rNn — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

1:15pm: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on CAA protests





Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on being asked about protests over #CitizenshipAct: Today, law and order situation in the country is deteriorating. There is a fear among all citizens today. I appeal to the central government to not bring this law but give employment to the youth. pic.twitter.com/bxQQDCDtde — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

1:10pm: Entry & exit gates of Barakhamba metro station closed. Trains will not be halting at this station.

12:40pm: Left leaders D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Nilotpal Basu, Brinda Karat, others detained at Mandi House

12:17 PM: Petition filed before Karnataka High Court challenging imposition of Section 144 in the state ahead of protests over Citizenship Act; court posts the matter for hearing on December 21.

12:07 PM: Airtel Bharti says it's following the government's direction to shut down the internet, call and SMS services in some areas of Delhi. The tweet was later deleted.

12:02 PM: Hyderabad police detain protesters from near Charminar.

Hyderabad: Police detain protestors who were holding demonstration against Citizenship Amendment Act near Charminar. #Telangana pic.twitter.com/5nPiqPr3Kk — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

11:49 AM:

Long jam at Delhi-Gurugram expressway due to police barricading. #CitizenshipAct pic.twitter.com/Ui4Ae9dCwH — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

11:37 AM:

Karnataka: Left parties hold protest in Bengaluru against the amended #CitizenshipAct & #NRC. Visuals from Mysore Bank Circle area. Section 144 is imposed in the city. pic.twitter.com/f3LIjzqOHu — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

11:36 AM: Delhi Police: Permission has not been granted for the protest march to be held by the communist party from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar over Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC at 12 pm today; Visuals from Mandi House.

11:22 AM: Author Ramachandra Guha detained by police in Bengaluru.

11:11 AM: Delhi Police start detaining protesters near Red Fort. Section-144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed near Red Fort.



10:36 AM: Entry, exit gates of Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market in view of protest against amended citizenship law.

10:08 AM: DMRC: Entry & exit gates of Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Vishwavidyalaya are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations.

9:22 AM: West Bengal was peaceful with no fresh incident of violence over the new citizenship law reported so far on Thursday, police said.

However, stray incidents of clashes between groups supporting the amended Citizenship Act and those opposing it were reported on Wednesday.

9:08 AM: Amid raging protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) across the country, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday spoke to representatives of the Muslim community via video conferencing and requested them to maintain law and order during protests against CAA and NRC.

9:02 AM: Deputy Commissioner Sindu B Roopesh has ordered to impose Section 144 in Dakshina Kannada district, ANI reported. A 'bandh' has been called by a consortium of Left-wing and Muslim organisations today in Karnataka.

8:59 AM:

Patna: All India Students Federation (AISF) members stop train at Rajendra Nagar railway station in protest against against #CitizenshipAct and National Register of Citizens. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/fF5Hcp1luY — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

8:38 AM: Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said: "Citizenship of India can be acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or incorporation of territory. Any foreigner on becoming eligible can acquire citizenship by registration or by naturalisation irrespective of his country or community. #CAA2019 enables foreigners of six minority communities from three countries to apply for citizenship on the basis of religious persecution".

8:27 AM: All schools and colleges in Karnataka's Kalaburagi will remain closed on Thursday as Section 144 will be imposed from the morning, District Commissioner Sharath said.

DCP Kalaburagi stated that Section 144, which prohibits the gathering of four or more people, will be imposed in the city from Thursday morning till December 21 late night.

8:24 AM: Hundreds of students and representatives from diaspora and workers’ groups gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London on Wednesday to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

8:15 AM: Amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Delhi Police is conducting foot patrolling as part of area domination and confidence-building exercise.

"Just because BJP has got the majority doesn't meanthey can do whatever they want. If the BJP has guts, it shouldgo for a United Nations-monitored referendum on the issue ofCitizenship Amended Act and the NRC," Banerjee said.

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