Police Crackdown On Lucknow Demonstrators

The Police have arrested dozens of men and women on Saturday while cracking down on the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that have been going on for the last 8 days at the historic site of Lucknow's Ghanta-Ghar. The Police personnel are also said to have used inappropriate language against the protesting women while threatening them. According to reports, the Police on Saturday was chasing away the men present at the site during which inappropriate language against the women was also used. On facing opposition, the Police further arrested Pooja Shukla. According to media reports, the Police filed FIRs on the people present there and arrested 3 women along with 3 dozen people. The Police then deployed Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the nearby areas. The Police have since then been constantly patrolling the area and is not allowing any vehicle to stop.

Women have alleged that the Police personnel while threatening them said "Will drag and beat you and throw your burqas". The Police have unreasonably arrested Pooja Shukla. Rajeev Yadav of the Rihai Manch said that the Police personnel are constantly patrolling and are driving away movement-sympathising men with lathis. The arrested student leader Pooja Shukla is the name student who had shown a black flag to the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The women at the Ghanta-Ghar are demanding Pooja's release. No information as of now could be managed regarding the 5 other women who were arrested besides Pooja. After the protesters' arrests, the RAF has been deployed by the Police.

It is worth mentioning that the Police have left no stone unturned to kill the ongoing demonstrations for the last 8 days. Earlier the toilets of the area were locked and now lights of the area too are cut off at nights, whereas the internet in the area is considerably weak.