Anti-CAA protests: Hyderabad police detains journalist, women, books case

Hyderabad: Hyderabad police has booked case against 34 protestors, who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) near Mallepally during the late hours on February 8. A journalist associated with Urdu daily Siasat, Mubashiruddin Khurram, has also been allegedly detained from Mallepally. Sources reveal that the journalist had been detained at Task Force office Secunderabad, and is to be released soon.

The anti-CAA protestors, which comprised of both men and women, had taken out a late-night demonstration, at around 10.30 pm in Mallepally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Registry of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). Following the protests, several protestors were detained by Hyderabad police and taken to Ghoshamahal police station, while 12 women protestors were taken to Basheerbagh CCS (Central Crime Station).

Speaking to NewsMeter, Khalida Parveen, activist and one of the detained protestors said, “We took out a protest against the CAA, near Riyan hotel near X roads, Mallepally. We did not cause any disturbance to the public, and it was a peaceful protest. However, the police used force to detain around 34 people among us, out of which 12 are ladies. We also had minors with us: two boys and two girls.”

However, the police said that the protests were being held without permission. M.Narender Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ghoshamahal said, “The protestors were blocking roads and giving anti-CAA slogans, anti- central government slogans. They also created traffic jams and created huge inconvenience to the public. Moreover, no permission was given for the protest, which is why the protestors had been detained. Case has been booked also.”

The protestors have been booked under Section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (obstruction of duty of public servant), 188 (Disobedience to order), among other sections of IPC. The police further added that “We have served notices to the protestors, and they are required to appear before the court on February 14.”