CAA Protests: SP To Demonstrate Statewide Protest In UP, Sec 144 Imposed

Lucknow: In order to avoid any untoward incident ahead of protest against the CAA, the Uttar Pradesh administration has imposed Section 144 in the state. The administration has issued prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPc and has denied permission for any gathering or assembly in the state.

Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh has posted a tweet online which has an appeal for the parents to counsel their children to avoid such gatherings that would break the law. The DGP's tweet states, "Section 144 is in force and no permission for any gathering has been given for 19 December. Please do not participate. Parents are also requested to counsel their children."

All schools and colleges have also been closed on December 19 and December 20 by the Uttar Pradesh government and a heavy force has been deployed in the old city areas in the state capital that has a sizeable Muslim population. The UP Board practicals scheduled on these dates have been rescheduled. The Lucknow traffic police has also issued an advisory asking people not to allow unknown people in their vehicles.

It is to be mentioned that the Uttar Pradesh was under the influence of heavy protests since last two to three days. While there were a number of violent protests reported in some of the districts of the state, clashes also erupted in the district between police personnel and scores of protesters who had hit the streets in opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act. Mau district had reported violent encounters between the forces and the protestors whereas protest marches were taken out in Aligarh and Lucknow where a large number of youth came out to demonstrate against the alleged violence perpetrated by police against students in the Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

The protests have already taken a political shape with Samajwadi Party announcing a statewide protest, on Thursday, against the law. SP President Akhilesh Yadav has stated that his party would go ahead with the protests and has also appealed to the party workers to participate in large numbers.