New Delhi/Kanpur/Patna/Mangaluru, Dec. 21 (PTI): There was more violence in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday during anti-CAA protests where a mob torched a police post in Kanpur, while large-scale vandalism and disruption of rail and road traffic were witnessed in Bihar during a bandh called by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal against the amended Citizenship Act.
At least 15 people have been killed in violence during protests in Uttar Pradesh since Thursday. The state police said over 260 personnel were also injured, of whom 57 received gunshot wounds.
Protestors set ablaze Yatimkhana police post in Kanpur on Saturday and indulged in heavy brick batting, leading to injuries to many people including policemen, a senior official said. Police used cane charge and tear gas to chase them away. Clashes were also reported from Rampur district.
Security was tight in violence-affected areas of Old Delhi and Seemapuri in the national capital. Police took into custody Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad this morning after he emerged from the Jama Masjid, where he had taken part in a massive anti-CAA protest a day earlier. He was sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Fifteen people arrested for Friday's violence in Daryaganj were remanded in judicial custody for two days, while 11 others were sent to jail for a fortnight in connection with the Seemapuri incident. Demonstrations continued at the India Gate as well near the Jamia Millia Islamia campus, days after violent clashes in the area.
Protests continued in parts of South India, including Chennai where CPI-M activists tried to block trains at the railway station but their attempts were foiled by police. The Congress in Kerala led by its top leaders held demonstrations in all district headquarters of the state. There were scuffles at several places in Tamil and Kerala between police and protesters who tried to break barricades.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa visited Mangaluru and met the families of two persons who were killed in police firing there on Thursday during violent anti-CAA protests.
Police detained CPI Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala Binoy Viswam and some party activists who staged a protest in the city against the CAA defying the curfew.
Amid the countrywide stir against the Citizenship Act, BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) urged the Centre to include Muslims in the new law by bringing an amendment to it and said there should not be any exclusion on the basis of religion.
BSP president Mayawati asked the Centre to give up its "stubborn stand" on the new citizenship law and NRC and withdraw its decisions as now "voices opposed to the CAA and NRC have started coming from within the NDA".
In Uttar Pradesh, amid a bandh call in Rampur against the CAA, around 400 to 500protestors, including children in the age group of 12-18 years, gathered at some distance from the Eidgah in the city and stones were pelted at policemen, officials said.
After the violence in Kanpur, Samajwadi Party MLA Amitabh Bajpai was arrested as a precautionary measure and his vehicles seized, police said.
After a lull of four days, the Aligarh Muslim University campus again witnessed protests on Saturday with hundreds of non-teaching staff joining hands with teachers' association to oppose the CAA and police action against students.
Director-General of Police O P Singh claimed women and children were used as "shields by the protestors". He maintained that police did not open fire and suggested the deaths were due to cross firing between protestors.
So far 218 people have been arrested in Lucknow, he said.
In Bihar, supporters of the bandh called by RJD squatted on railway tracks, disrupting train movement, and blocked bus terminuses at various places to enforce the day-long bandh.
Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition in the state Assembly and heir apparent of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, marched in a large procession from the party office in Bir Chand Patel Marg here to Dak Bungalow crossing, throwing traffic on the busy Fraser Road and Bailey Road out of gear.
Movement of at least seven trains was affected for periods ranging from 30 minutes to over an hour at various stations, the East Central Railway, headquartered at Hajipur in the state, said in a statement.
In Muzaffarpur, the largest north Bihar town, RJD and Congress leaders sat on highways, major road and railway crossings to enforce the bandh. At places like Brahmpura, they clashed with shopkeepers who were reluctant to down their shutters.
In Tamil Nadu, outfits affiliated to the CPI(M) including the Democratic Youth Federation of India, and Students Federation of India attempted to block trains at the MGR Central Railway Station complex in the state capital, leading to scuffles with police,
Communist Party of India veteran Nallakannu led the march to Raj Bhavan as part of the party's "besiege Raj Bhavan" agitation in which scores of Congress workers, volunteers of outfits including the CPI-affiliated All India Students' Federation, took part.
They were stopped near the Taluk Office Road-Little Mount point. Protests were held at Kumbakonam and other parts of Tamil Nadu as well by various outfits including Islamic bodies.
During his visit to Mangaluru, Yediyurappa also met representatives of Christian and Muslim communities, political leaders and officials.
He appealed for peace and said he has instructed the district administration to provide compensation to the families of the victims as per law.
Curfew is in place within the city commissionerate till Sunday midnight in view of violence during Thursday protests. The chief minister promised relaxation in curfew.
Six people, including CPI Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala Binoy Viswam, were detained when they staged a protest in the city against the CAA defying curfew.
Police have restricted the entry of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mangaluru during the period of curfew.
Meanwhile, as many as 1,100 academicians and research scholars from various universities across India and abroad as well as prominent persons released a statement in support of the amended Citizenship Act.