Anti-CAA Protest: Stone Pelting Between Two Groups In Maujpur, Police Fire Tear Gas Shells

Stone pelting between two groups was reported in the Maujpur area of Delhi where a large number of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters have gathered since Saturday night. According to reports, the clash erupted between pro and anti-CAA protesters after which they started stone-pelting. The situation escalated as police was outnumbered by the crowd. Reportedly, some people suffered injuries after which police resorted to firing tear gas shells.

The police did not use force as large number of anti-CAA protesters are women.

There was tension in the area after hundreds of anti-CAA protesters, mostly women, blocked a road near the Jaffrabad metro station which connects Seelampur with Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar.

Delhi: Stone pelting between two groups in Maujpur area, tear gas shells fired by Police. pic.twitter.com/Yj3mCFSsYk

— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2020

The anti-CAA protest continued on Sunday, prompting the Delhi Metro authorities to close the entry and exit gates of the station.

"This protest is against CAA, NRC and also seeking reservation for Dalits. The movement is primarily led by the women, while the men are only supporting them,” one of the protesters were quoted as saying by IANS.

"We have blocked the road in order to protest and we will not move from the site till the Centre revokes the draconian law," the protester added.

Protesters raising slogans of 'aazadi', said they would not move from the site till the Centre revoke Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

They also tied a blue band on their arm and also raised 'Jai Bhim' slogans. There was heavy security deployment, including women police personnel, in the area.

Social activist Faheem Baig said there is a resentment within the people against the way the government is handling the issue.

Shamim Ahmed, a local cleric, was in talks with the protesters at Jaffrabad to persuade them to leave the site.

A protest is already going on near the main Seelampur road and Kardampuri against the amended Citizenship Act. The protest at Jaffrabad took place at a time efforts are being made to clear a road blocked by anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh.

The protesters have been staging a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh for over two months, blocking the road connecting southeast Delhi and Noida. The Supreme Court has appointed interlocutors in an attempt to reach out to the anti-CAA protesters.