MHA Issued Advisory To States, UTs In View Of Violent Protest Against Citizenship Amendment Act: Sources

In view of violent protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to states and Union Territories asking them to take requisite precautionary measures to maintain law and order, sources said.

"State governments and UT administrations requested to take requisite precautionary measures to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility. They have also been requested to take action against the circulation of fake news and rumours on social media having the potential to incite violence," sources said.

MHA sources:State govts&UT administrations requested to take requisite precautionary measures to maintain lawℴ,peace&public tranquility. They have also been requested to take action against circulation of fake news &rumours on social media having potential to incite violence

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2019

"MHA has issued an advisory to States and UTs, in view of incidences of violence and damage to public property being reported from some parts of the country, it's imperative all required measures be taken to contain violence, ensure the protection of life and safety of citizens," sources were quoted as saying by ANI.

Earlier, violence erupted on Mathura Road in southeast Delhi following a clash between police and Jamia Millia Islamia students who were protesting against the amended Citizenship Act. The protesters torched DTC buses and a fire tender was damaged, police claimed.

Students claimed that the police baton charged them when they were holding a peaceful protest.

According to Saimon Farooqui, national secretary of Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India, the protesters were peacefully sitting on Mathura Road when policemen tried to "trouble" a couple of protesters, who resisted.

Thereafter, police started lathicharging the protesters and using teargas, he alleged.