Five killed in clashes over citizenship law as Trump arrives in New Delhi
NEW DELHI: At least five people were killed, including a policeman, in New Delhi on Monday amidst chaos over the controversial citizenship law, as President of the United States Donald Trump reached the Indian capital, reported local media sources.
Protesters burnt two houses and shops before setting a tyre market on fire, Indian media reported. Black smoke billowed from buildings everywhere as seen on local TV channels.
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A video on social media showed crowds of men chanting “Jai Shree Ram” (“Hail Lord Ram”) before causing uproar around the city.
Protests erupted across India as a result of the citizenship law coming into effect in December, killing atleast 30 people in clashes against the police.
The law has been criticized for discriminating against Muslims. The new law has raised concerns within the country and abroad saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to remold secular India into a fully Hindu nation by marginalizing the country’s 200 million Muslims – a claim he does not accept.
The most recent clash occurred between several hundred supporters and critics of the law in Muslim-dominated northeast area of Delhi on Sunday.
Local Indian media reported deaths of three civilians along with several people injured.
“Please renounce violence. Nobody benefits from this. All problems will be solved by peace,” Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that schools will be shut in the capital’s northeast and exams held off.
