India

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad has been arrested in connection with the violence in Old Delhi's Daryaganj, police said on Saturday.

Aazad's outfit had organised a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar on Friday against the new citizenship law, despite not having permission from police.

On Friday evening, after security personnel tried to detain him during the march, Aazad surfaced inside the mosque. He had given the Delhi police a slip to reach the mosque.

Pune, Dec 21 (PTI) NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that like eight other states, Maharashtra should also refuse implementation of the new citizenship law, which he feared would hurt the religious and social harmony of India.

Dubbing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) "ploys" by the Centre to "divert attention" from serious issues plaguing the country, Pawar expressed apprehension that the Centre might dismiss the state governments opposing the new citizenship law.

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Violent clashes with police rocked Uttar Pradesh from Gorakhpur to Bulandshahr on Friday while thousands rallied in the national capital with tricolour and 'Save Constitution' banners as protests raged across states against the amended citizenship law and the proposed NRC, prompting the government to indicate it was ready to accept suggestions.

NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (NNN-PTI) – The death toll, during protests against the controversial new citizenship law, has risen to 10, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said today (Saturday).

The dead include an 8-year-old boy, who was trampled in the stampede, after police resorted to baton charging, in Dharara locality of Varanasi district.

According to Uttar Pradesh Police Chief, O P Singh, nine people were killed on Friday, and none of the deaths were caused by police firing.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Police banned public gatherings in parts of the Indian capital and other cities for a third day Friday and cut internet services to counter growing protests against a new law that critics say marginalizes Muslims. Fourteen people have died so far and more than 4,000 have been detained, officials said.

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Friday closed the gates of 13 metro stations, including the busy Rajiv Chowk, to restrict the movement of anti-CAA agitators in the national capital, which has been witnessing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"Entry & exit gates of Rajiv Chowk, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market are closed. Interchange facility is available at Rajiv Chowk," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.

Earlier, Johri Enclave, Shiv Vihar and Dilshad Garden stations were closed.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 20 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan on Friday strongly condemned the detention of journalists from the state in Karnataka, where two people were killed in police firing during anti-CAA protests, and said the onslaught on media freedom was a "fascist mindset."

"I strongly condemn the attempt to portray journalists as troublemakers and their news gathering equipment as weapons.

Keonjhar, Dec 19 (PTI) A court in Odishas Keonjhar district on Thursday sentenced a man to death penalty for rape and murder of a three-year-old girl.

Additional District Court-cum Special Court Judge Lokanath Sahu pronounced capital punishment to 20-year-old Sunil Kumar Naik after convicting him for rape and murder of the minor girl on January 13, 2017.

Chandigarh, Dec 19 (PTI) Scores of people on Thursday staged a protest here to express their resentment against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.

Various Muslim outfits that had given a call for protest were joined by some students and Sikh outfits.

The agitators gathered near a mosque in Sector 20 here to register their dissent against the CAA.

Raiganj (West Bengal), Dec 19 (PTI) Two persons were arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident of attack on a group of people protesting against the Citizenship Act in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district, police said.

The protesters were attacked at College Para area near National Highway-34 on Wednesday when they were returning after submitting a deputation at the district magistrate's office and six persons were injured when crude bombs were hurled at them.