Internet suspended in Aligarh after anti-CAA protesters clash with police
Aligarh/UNI: Violence broke out here on Sunday between police and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters in the Uparkot Kotwali area here, resulting into stone pelting by protesters who set afire a portion of a shop in the area, vandalized a police vehicle injuring some police officers.
A motorcycle belonging to one of the policemen was also set ablaze by protesters.
Following the clashes, mobile internet has been suspended for a six-hour period starting 6 pm. A Rapid Action Force (RAF) of UP Police has been deployed.
According to the cops the clashes took place after some protesters, who had gathered outside a police station to ask for permission to erect tents for protection against bad weather, allegedly threw stones and vandalized the vehicle of a local police officer - the Station House Officer - prompting the cops to respond with a lathi-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said the violence was under control and the mob had been dispersed.
"Violence started around 5 pm when a local police officer's vehicle was pelted with stones. Soon after, the mob started throwing stones at us to disperse them and we had to use tear gas shells. The situation is under control," Singh said, adding that the cops were also investigating the role of Aligarh Muslim University students in instigating the crowd.
He said the police were identifying them those incited the mob. “We are ascertaining the damages caused by rioters and penalty will be realized from them,” he said.
"We have held peace meetings and asked Muslim community leaders, including the Imam of the Jama Masjid, to act as interlocutors," Singh added.
