Section 144 imposed in Shaheen Bagh; police deployed as precaution

Security in the area has been tightened as a precautionary measure

Shaheen Bagh protesters [File] Demonstrators at Shaheen Bagh protesting against CAA and NRC | Salil Bera

Section 144 was imposed on Sunday in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, where protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) have been on since December last year, and security in the area has been tightened.

The police have been deployed as “precaution” in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi which has witnessed widespread violence in the past few days after anti-CAA protesters and supporters of the citizenship law clashed last week.

“This is to inform people that Section 144 has been imposed at Shaheen Bagh and holding protests or gathering of large crowds is prohibited. Anyone found violating this order will face legal action,” a directive from the Delhi Police said.

Delhi Police took the precautionary measure to deploy more forces at the protest site following the criticism over their inaction during the riots in Northeast Delhi last week. The riots have claimed over 40 lives so far, with several others injured.

Right-wing group the Hindu Sena had called off their protest for clearing the roads that were blocked in protest after the police promised action.

Demonstrators, mainly women, have been part of the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh from December 15 last year, calling to scrap the contentious citizenship law amended by the Centre that discriminate against Muslims.