Million March organiser booked by Hyderabad police for defying permit

Hyderabad: As many citizens and organisation in the nationwide protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, Hyderabadis made sure that they did their part as well. The did so by participating in the Million March at the city’s Dharna Chowk near Indira Nagar on Saturday, January 4, afternoon.

Around 50,000 thousand people hit the streets protesting the critical CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register (NPR). However, this has led the Chikkadpally police to book Mushtaq Malik, the Convenor of the Joint Action Committee against CAA and NRC. The cops cited violation of condition as the reason, which happened while the sea of protestors was passing by the Chikkadpally area to reach Dharna Chowk for the Million March.

Police booked Mushtaq Malik under Sections 143 (punishment to a member of an unlawful assembly), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 290 (punishment for public nuisance) of IPC and 21/76 (obstructing traffic) under the Hyderabad City Police Act.

Speaking to NewsMeter, an official from Chikkadpally Police said, “They violated the rules as they were passing through the area towards Dharna Chowk. They had taken permission from the CP (Commissioner of Police) for only a bike rally and conditions of not allowing more than 1,000 people to gather. However, half a lakh people were a part of it, which led to the legal action against the JAC convenor.” Moreover, Saidabad and Musheerabad Police stations have also registered an FIR regarding the same.

People from all walks of life participated in the Million March, including doctors, advocates, mainly students from different universities. It also drew people from Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad districts.