14 persons taken into custody following Friday prayers
Hyderabad: As many as 14 people were taken into police custody by the Hyderabad police at Friday’s historic Mecca Masjid. Protest against the CAA & NRC
“The 14 persons taken into preventive custody were released afterward,” Charminar B Anjaiah, Assistant Commissioner of Police Said.
A large crowd gathered to offer Friday prayer and shouted slogans in opposition to the NRC/CAA bill.
The police personnel present on the spot dispersed protesters as the numbers grew.
The prayers at the Mecca Masjid were peaceful, despite the sloganeering against NRC/CAA, Mr Anjani Kumar said.
There have been a number of incidents in the last few days where protests were held by students, as well as political parties, against NRC and CAA.
Kamareddy was home to protestors who walked three kilometers to submit a memorandum for the district collector.
Mr. Mohammed Ali Shabir, the Congress leader, demanded that Mr. K Chandrashekhar Rao, Chief Minister, convene a special session to adopt a resolution disapproving both NRC und CAA.
In the meantime, Congress condemned the actions of BJP government. It expressed solidarity with students, citizens, and their struggle. Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused government of using brute force in suppression of people’s voices in protest against NRC/CAA. This is unacceptable in a democracy, she said in a statement to fellow citizens.
The statement was issued during protests against the CAA, NRC and other government agencies. There have been incidents of violence, stone-throwing, and police firing on protesters.
Mrs. Gandhi said that the CAA is discriminatory, and the proposed NRC nationwide will be particularly harmful to the poor and vulnerable.