Women protesters at Lucknow anti-CAA protests charged with rioting

The women were charged with criminal cases after a woman constable filed a complaint

Women protesters at Lucknow anti-CAA protests charged with rioting Women protesters at Lucknow's iconic Hussainabad Clock Tower | Puja Awasthi

Women protesters gathered at Lucknow's Hussainabad Clock Tower as part of an indefinite sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) since Friday last week have been accused of rioting by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The police charged criminal cases against more than 100 women, including Sumaiya Rana and Fauzia Rana, daughters of Urdu poet Munawwar Rana.

The sit-in against the CAA began when around 50 women gathered at the clock tower on Friday night. The protest gathered steam after more women joined the demonstration, and when police were accused of taking away the protesters' food and blankets to deter them from continuing their sit-in. Lucknow Police had dismissed these allegation, calling them rumours, but later confirmed that blankets were taken away “after due process”.

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According to reports, the criminal cases were filed against the women protesters gathered at the clock tower after a woman constable filed a formal complaint that protesters misbehaved with her. In her complaint, the woman constable alleged that she was pushed by the women protesters, who also misbehaved with her. They have been accused of unlawful assembly and “assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty”.

Since the CAA protests broke out in December, at least 20 people have died across Uttar Pradesh during demonstrations and as a result of police retaliation. Prominent activists were also detained and charged with criminal cases amid anti-CAA protests.