Heavy police deployment at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh; Section 144 imposed
The Delhi Police on Sunday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Shaheen Bagh, where protesters have staged a sit-in demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act since mid-December. The prohibitory orders were issued even as the Hindu Sena called off its plans to clear the protest site. The development comes on the heels of tragic communal violence in Northeast Delhi.
'Violation of prohibitory orders may invite legal proceedings'
In its Sunday order, the Delhi Police stated, "People are informed that Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed here (Shaheen Bagh) and it is requested that permission for any gathering is not allowed. Violation of this may invite legal proceedings." Section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area.
Heavy police deployment in Shaheen Bagh as 'precautionary measure'
The Shaheen Bagh locality also witnessed heavy police deployment on Sunday as a "precautionary measure." Joint Commissioner DC Srivastava told ANI, "Our aim is to maintain law and order, and prevent any untoward incident from occurring."
Hindu Sena called off plans to clear Shaheen Bagh protests
Previously, the right-wing outfit Hindu Sena had called to clear the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh on March 1. However, the outfit announced on Saturday that it had called off its proposed move. In a statement to News18, the outfit said they had been "pressured" by the police to call off their protest against the Shaheen Bagh demonstration.
Hindu Sena accused Delhi Police of illegally detaining outfit's chief
Further, the Hindu Sena alleged that the outfit's National President Vishnu Gupta was "illegally detained" by the police, News18 reported. However, the police said that no one had been detained, adding that the Sena called off plans after speaking to senior police officers.
What happened during Northeast Delhi violence?
The environment in Delhi has been tense since last Sunday, when violence erupted between pro and anti-CAA protesters in Northeast Delhi. The violence continued for days, leaving 42 dead and hundreds injured. Several homes were burnt, looted; schools and public property were vandalized, and religious sites desecrated. The police—accused of laxity—has set up two Special Investigation Teams to probe the violence.
Shaheen Bagh protesters have blocked Jasola-Noida road since mid-December
Since the mid-December Jamia Millia Islamia violence, women have led a sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh against the contentious CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). The protesters have blocked the Jasola-Noida route via Kalindi Kunj. A plea filed against the protests in the Supreme Court was notably deferred on Wednesday in light of the Northeast Delhi violence.
