CAA protests: Situation peaceful and under control, say police officials in Mangaluru
Violence in Mangaluru receded after internet was shut down and curfew was put in place, where two people were killed during protests over the Citizenship Act on December 19. Situation is "absolutely peaceful" and "under control," a senior police official said.
FollowMangaluru: Situation in violence-hit Mangaluru, where two people were killed during protests over Citizenship Amendment Act on December 19, is "absolutely peaceful" and "under control," a senior police official said on Friday.
With curfew in place, movement of people has been scarce. Educational institutions were closed on Friday.
"Situation in Mangaluru city is absolutely peaceful, no incident has been reported in the night, police have been deployed all across the city. Curfew is in force till midnight of December 22 and all internet services have been suspended in public interest," Mangaluru police commissioner PS Harsha told media.
Karnataka government has suspended mobile Internet services in Dakshina Kannada district on Thursday night for the next 48 hours after two persons were killed in police firing during violent protests in Mangaluru against the controversial citizenship law.
The decision to suspend the Internet from 10 pm was taken in order to prevent misuse of social media platforms to disturb peace and tranquillity, and for maintaining the law-and-order situation, according to a notification.
Police lobbed tear gas shells, resorted to baton charge and fired in the air to disperse people protesting the amended Citizenship Act in Mangaluru.
Two persons received bullet wounds in police firing and they later succumbed to injuries at a hospital, the police said.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad divisional secretary Sharan Pumpwell when quizzed about the situation in Mangaluru and the fear among minorities, he said, “Jihadis are instigating the CAA protests and there is no fear like situation. Yes, people are vandalising public property and stations and destroying peace in Kerala and Karnataka. Congress MLA UT Khader is responsible for the disruption of peace and the protests.
When asked about the two people who succumbed to injured in the police firing, Sharan said, “police had to fire to disperse the crowd. In the first place, why should people disrupt peace in the society? He added, “I have no idea about the journalists from Kerala who were detained. But they didn’t have accreditation and were found suspicious.”
When we asked the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader if the situation (CAA protests) will reside, he said, “Once people will understand the law, protests will die down. Indian Muslims do not have to fear this law as it is only a means of identification. It won’t do any harm to the Indian Muslims. We call India a Hindu rashtra only because we are secular and we have place for Hindu, Muslim, Christian, temple, church and mosque. There should be no fear as the government is only trying to provide identification for one and all”.
With PTI Inputs
