Protestors have started pouring in the Jama Masjid area of Delhi on the call of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad to march in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Delhi police, however, have denied permission to the Bhim Army for the protest march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar.
The police have imposed Section 144 in the walled city, prohibiting an assembly of four or more people.
The national capital came to a standstill yesterday due to protest call by the Left parties across the country. Thousands of students, civil society members, opposition leaders took to the streets in Delhi, defying the prohibitory orders, even as the authorities took all the possible measures–from internet suspension to the closure of metro stations– to curb the protests.
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6:55 pm: “We used mild force and water cannons to disperse the crowd, however, didn’t lathi-charge or fire tear-gas shells”, said Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa.
6:50 pm: Security update from Delhi Metro rail Corporation and Delhi Traffic Police.
6:40 pm: Delhi Traffic police closes traffic movement from Mandi House to ITO due to continuing protests in Old Delhi over Citizenship Act.
6:30 pm: Sonia Gandhi appeals for peace. She condemned the government actions and called people’s apprehension about the Citizenship Act real and legitimate.
6:25 pm: Protesters are still protesting outside Jama Masjid against the new Citizenship law.
6:20 pm: Mosques appeal protesters to disperse peacefully.
6:17 pm: A Car set on fire by protesters outside the DCP office near Daryaganj.
Delhi: Car torched in Daryaganj during protest over #CitizenshipAct pic.twitter.com/2o4tkDXZO6
— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2019
6:15 pm: Police use water cannons against protesters at Delhi Gate in Daryaganj.
6:10 pm: People have started gathering at India Gate to protest the citizenship Act.
6:05 pm: VP Surya, DCP Northeast zone, Delhi said, “Large number of protesters had gathered around Seelampur flyover and Loha Pul today evening. Till now the protests have been peaceful and the situation is under control.”
5:45 pm: Large number of protesters gather at Delhi Gate in Daryaganj area.
5:15 pm: DMRC shuts Mandi House metro station. Interchange facility will be available.
4:45 pm: Kashmere Gate metro stations closed in view of protests in North and East Delhi. Trains will not halt, however, interchange facility will be available.
4:30 pm: Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh of Delhi Police received injuries in the stone-pelting during protests in Seemapuri against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
4:15 pm: Thousands of people started marching from Seelampur to Jama Masjid barefoot, defying section 144 imposed in the area. Earlier in the day police conducted a flag march and deployed paramilitary forces and 1500 other security personnel
4:00 pm: Protesters turn violent in Pasonda area in Ghaziabad. Police resort to lathicharge after agitators started pelting stones.
3:25 pm: Protesters and police personnel clashed and pelted stones at each other in Lucknow during a demonstration against Citizenship protest.
3:30 pm: Pondicherry University Students’ Union issued notice urging students to boycott convocation to be attended by Ram Nath Kovind on December 23 in solidarity with protests against the “unconstitutional” Citizenship Act.
2:45 pm: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed all the entry and exit gates of Jamia Millia Islamia, Jaffrabad, Johri Enclave, Dilshad Garden, Rajiv Chowk, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market. Interchange facility is available at Rajiv Chowk.
2:25 pm: Delhi: Delhi police tried to detain Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad, but he managed to get away with the help of his supporters.
1:45 pm: Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa, who was offered roses by the protesters in the morning, is also present at Jama Masjid to control and monitor the situation. He asks people to peacefully disperse and not violate the prohibitory orders.
1:30 pm: Thousands of people gathered at Jama Masjid, defying prohibitory orders to march against Citizenship law. Delhi Police are using drones to monitor the situation.
1:27 pm: Amid loud cheers from supporters, Chandra Shekhar Azad makes a dramatic entry to the march venue at Jama Masjid.
1:15 pm: Delhi Mahila Congress chief and Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha has been detained near Amit Shah’s residence, PTI reported.
1:10 pm: Delhi Police are on the lookout for Chandrashekhar Azad after Bhim Army was denied permission to march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar. Police claimed his phone is switched off.
1:05 pm: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad tweeted, “Please do not pay heed to rumours about my arrest. I am reaching Jama Masjid to march.”
12:30 pm: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed all the entry and exit gates of Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila, and Jama Masjid in view of the protest against citizenship law. Trains will not halt at these stations.