NEW DELHI :Amid nationwide lockdown over highly contagious novel coronavirus, Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh – heart of protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA – was cleared on Tuesday morning after 101 days. The police also removed artistic banners, a large standing map of India and a model India Gate from the site. The police crackdown on anti-CAA protestors was also carried out in Jaffrabad, Hauz Rani, Jamia Millia Islamia and Turkman Gate.
According to R P Meena, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Southeast district, a total of nine protesters including six women were detained at Shaheen Bagh and taken to a nearby police station.
“People were requested to vacate the site as a lockdown has been imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, action was taken when refused to move,” said the DCP.
The agitators, mostly women, had been on a sit-in at the site since December 15 to protest the new Citizenship law and NRC. About 50 protesters including men were at the venue in Shaheen Bagh.
“Most of the protesters vacated the site after police made an appeal but a few refused. So, the police detained them. A decision about resuming the protest will be taken after the coronavirus situation comes under control,” a volunteer at the site requesting anonymity said.
Earlier on Sunday, during the ‘Janta curfew’, only five women were at the site while others had left their slippers as a symbol of solidarity. “The women were taking all precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak and sanitisers had been arranged at the venue to ensure utmost hygiene,” the volunteer said.
At Shaheen Bangh, the epicentre of anti-CAA protest for more than three months, cops urged the protesters to vacate the site. But protesters were adamant on not leaving the site. Police later forcefully removed them and cleared the road.
Police reached the protest site outside Jamia Millia Islamia and vacated the protesters. Earlier on March 21, protesters at Jamia Millia Islamia’s gate number 7 had suspended their agtation after the government’s appeal.
Other protest sites in the national capital including Jafrabad in northeast Delhi, Turkman Gate in central Delhi and Hauz Rani in south Delhi too were cleared by the police.
“Protesters at Hauz Rani vacated the site at around 7 am. Only two-three protesters were there… After we made an appeal, they left the spot,” said Atul Kumar, the DCP south district.
At the protest site in Hauz Rani, cops vacated protesters and are monitoring the situation to prevent mass gathering. In Jafarabad, the site of violent protests, heavy contingent of security officials have been deployed. Police is using drones near Jamia Millia Islamia protest site to monitor the situation in the vicinity.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC are already in place in the entire national capital in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that no relaxation will be given and strict action will be taken against the violators.
The development comes amid a sweeping lockdown that has been imposed in the national capital to break the chain of Coronavirus.
The Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the national capital till March 31 banning protests and other gatherings.
