Iran Press/Asia: A police officer and five civilians were killed, with 70 injured as thousands of demonstrators for and against the newly-amended citizenship law clashed in New Delhi on Monday. The rioting took place a few kilometres from where US President Donald Trump will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Sputnik reported.
According to official reports, police officer Ratan Lal, and civilians Mohammed Furqan, Mohammed Shahid, Rahul and Vinod were killed in clashes in the north-east section of Delhi. Records show that at least 45 people were admitted in Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, while 15 others have been hospitalised in Jag Parvesh Hospital in Delhi. Six police officers were hospitalised in serious condition in Max Hospital.
?Video from the clash sites show people throwing stones, as well as setting vehicles, petrol pumps and shops ablaze. Indian home ministry sources said that additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to the region and police have enforced Section 144 of Indian law, prohibiting large gatherings in affected areas.
?Despite enforcing the ban on large gatherings, people continue to take to the streets in sensitive areas like Gokulpuri Bhajanpura, Maujpur, and Jaffrabad. Vehicles, shops and buildings were set ablaze in the region overnight.
Demonstrators have been holding major protests in Delhi since December 2019, after the Modi government amended the country’s six-decade-old citizenship law.
Amended citizenship law grants nationality to non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-dominated countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Muslims have accused the government of undermining secular traditions, and asked that the law be once again amended to include Muslim eligibility for citizenship.
Division has been deepened in India following the new citizenship act that makes it easier for non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh to be naturalized.
According to France 24, twenty-seven people have died in two weeks of violent demonstrations after the new law by Hindu Nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government expedited citizenship for certain religious minorities.
Coupled with a mooted citizens register, the law also has stoked fears -including in the UN rights office- about the marginalization of Muslims who make up 14 percent of India's 1.3 billion people.
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Tensions deepen over a citizenship law in India
