Deadly citizenship law protests continue in India leading to death of nine

People across India are demonstrating against the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act, which is denying citizenship to many living in the country from past many decades.

It has been more than a week since demonstrations are going on in India, and the internet is now shut in the capital city Delhi following the recent attacks on Jamia Islamia Univerisity students by Delhi Police.

Fresh clashes erupted on Friday in Uttar Pradesh state’s capital, Lucknow, when police blocked a few hundred people on their way to a projected demonstration, with defence troops firing tear gas and charging with batons, an AFP news agency correspondent present at the scene stated.

Three local demonstrators were shot dead on Thursday, bringing the death toll to nine while six people were killed earlier in the northeastern state of Assam. The wave of anger throughout the country is emerging as a significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Citizenship Amendment Act is making it more accessible to victimised minorities from three neighbouring countries to get citizenship, but not if they are Muslims.

The law making it easier for minorities from three neighbouring countries to get citizenship but not if they are Muslims. This decision has created fears that the Indian Prime Minister Modi intends to remould India as a Hindu nation, which he however refuses.

In Mangalore, defence forces began firing on a gathering of around 200 people after they disregarded orders to separate, shooting two people, police spokesman Qadir Shah told AFP news agency. Four others were admitted in the hospital with gunshot wounds.