Priyanka Gandhi visits family of dead anti-CAA protesters in UP as toll touches 16

Uttar Pradesh police said as many as 705 persons have been arrested and 4,500 were detained for the violence that broke out on 19 December.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi meets father of Zahid Hussian Sulaman who died in the police firing on 22 December | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Bijnor: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday made an unscheduled visit to Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and met families of two persons, killed in recent violence over the amended citizenship law.

Local Congress leaders said she visited Nahtaur area of the district to meet families of the two persons, who died in the recent violence over the new provisions in the law.

UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu told PTI that the party general secretary also interacted with people in the area.

Bijnor was one of the districts in Uttar Pradesh affected by violence by anti-CAA protesters who hurled stones and brickbats at policemen, and torched some vehicles.

On Saturday, violent protests against CAA raged on across Uttar Pradesh taking the death toll to 16 in the state. One person died and several people were injured in clashes between the protesters, who pelted stones and indulged in arson, and police in Rampur in UP, officials said.

Protestors set ablaze Yatimkhana police post in Kanpur and indulged in heavy brickbatting, leading to injuries to many people including policemen, a senior official said. Police had used cane-charge and tear gas to chase them away.

UP police said as many as 705 persons have been arrested and 4,500 were detained for the violence during the last two days. They said 260 security personnel were injured, of whom 57 suffered gunshot wounds.

After a lull of four days, the Aligarh Muslim University campus again witnessed protests Saturday with hundreds of non-teaching staff joining hands with teachers’ association to oppose the CAA and police action against students.

Police earlier said at least 15 people, including an eight-year-old boy, lost their lives in the state since Thursday in the state.

Over 260 policemen were also injured, of whom 57 received gunshot wounds, IG (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar said.

Clashes with police were reported after Friday prayers from Bhadohi, Bahraich, Amroha, Farurukhabad, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Hapur, Hathras, Bulandshahr, Hamirpur and Mahoba districts and cases have been registered.

Internet had been suspended in major cities, including Lucknow.