Violent clashes break out in Delhi’s Seelampur, police crack down on Citizenship Act protest

Protesters and police clashed in east Delhi's Seelampur during which stones were pelted and buses were set on fire.

Brick-bats lie on a road as Anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protestors clash with the police at Seelampur in New Delhi, Tuesday. | PTI

New Delhi: Delhi saw a fresh surge of violent protests Tuesday afternoon as angry protesters demanding the scrapping of the amended citizenship law torched several motor bikes, pelted stones at police and damaged public buses in Seelampur area.

According to a senior police officer, the protest began at around 12 pm. The protesters raised slogans against the new law as well as the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A large number of policemen were deployed as the violence broke out, with police resorting to baton charges and firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowds. Plumes of smoke billowed from at least two localities.

Two bikes of traffic policemen were burnt by the demonstrators while a police booth in the area was damaged, police said.

According to the, protesters were marching from Seelampur towards Jafrabad.

Clashes erupted at Seelampur Chowk when security personnel tried to stop protesters from advancing.

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#WATCH Delhi: Earlier visuals of protesters targeting policemen in Seelampur. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct pic.twitter.com/JPJLub29ln

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019

Delhi Police spokesperson MS Randhawa said the situation was under control in Seelampur, and CCTV footage from areas were being collected to monitor the situation. “Video recording is also being done. None of the people, involved in such incidents, will be spared,” Randhawa said.

The police closed all vehicular movement between Seelampur and Jafrabad. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also ordered the closing of entry and exit gates of five metro stations in and around the area.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Delhi citizens to maintain peace. “No form of violence is acceptable in a civilised society. Nothing can be gained by violence. We should put forth our opinion peacefully,” he said.

The clashes erupted two days after violence broke out during a protest in the New Friends area in South Delhi near Jamia Millia Islamia.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)