Update 21
Pictures from Himachal Pradesh where students have taken to the streets against CAA.
Tens of thousands of people across the country are participating in mass protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which was passed by parliament recently. The protests are being led by the Left parties and many other organisations and people’s movements. The police in a number of States, especially those ruled by the BJP, have cracked down on the protesters, detaining any of them and in some cases, taking them to undisclosed locations. Ahead of the protests, Section 144 of the IPC was imposed in the whole of Uttar Pradesh and in many cities.
Pictures from Himachal Pradesh where students have taken to the streets against CAA.
Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists, who were protesting against CAA in Theni in Tamil Nadu, have been detained by the police.
Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau Member of the CPI(M) had also been detained today in Delhi
A Delhi High Court bench has declined interim protection to the students of Jamia Millia Islamia from coercive action including arrest. Lawyers chanted "shame shame" following this development, reported PTI. The Court, however, has issued a notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and the police on a PIL seeking setting up of a fact-finding committee to look into the violence at the university during protests against the CAA.
Nineteen IndiGo flights were cancelled and 16 others were delayed as crew members were stuck in the traffic jam at NH-8 due to anti-CAA protests on Thursday, a Delhi airport official said, reported PTI. Three airlines -- Vistara, Air India and IndiGo -- announced that their passengers, who are stuck in traffic due to anti-CAA protests at various parts of Delhi, will be adjusted in subsequent flights.
In Hyderabad, a protest against CAA has begun at People's Plaza on Necklace road, reported The Wire. In the morning, police had detained people who were on their way to a protest site in Nampally, including students from the University of Hyderabad. They have been released.
Gauhati High Court has directed Assam government to restore mobile internet services by 5 pm today, reported Live Law.
Photo from Lucknow where people have gathered to Say no to CAA
"We are united. No effort will break India's secular character and its pluralism will succeed. We cannot be silenced," Aparna Sen was quoted as saying by PTI. The veteran actor-filmmaker participated in a rally in Kolkata today against the controversial CAA.
Thousands of protesters continue to raise slogans at Jantar Mantar to oppose CAA. Hundreds of detainees who were picked up by the Delhi Police and released at faraway places in the capital have made their way back to the protest site.
Protest against CAA in Salem by left parties: Protesters were forced to resort to rasta roko after the police denied permission to protest. Many protesters have been detained.
Earlier today, students and people belonging to the Muslim community offered namaz outside Jamia Millia Islamia as others formed a human chain around them, sending a message of communal harmony.
People from across states and communities have united to oppose the newly introduced law, which grants citizenship on the basis of religion. Many have called it 'an attack on Indian Constitution'. Protesters at Jantar Mantar hold placards to show their opposition.
Braving the dipping mercury, a large number of protesters have gathered at Jantar Mantar; more continue to arrive as the metro stations around the site of the protest have now been opened.
As the crowd continues to swell at Jantar Mantar, the police have appealed to protesters to conclude their demonstration. A police official reportedly told the protesters, "Aap ka time poora ho gaya hai (Your time is over)".
The police have opened fire on the protesters in Mangaluru, reported Mirror Now.
According to Mirror Now, at least 50 protesters have been detained in Hyderabad.
As the protests against CAA turned violent in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has called for a high-level meeting; has summoned the DGP. The police had resorted to lathi charge after the protesters reportedly pelted stones. Police vehicles were torched by the protesters, who reportedly even targeted journalists covering the protest.
Mumbai remains one of the few cities where Section 144 was not imposed in order to deter the protesters. While the capital city of Maharashtra witnessed both pro and anti-CAA protests, those opposing the discriminatory law gathered in huge numbers at August Kranti Maidan. The Mumbai police made elaborate arrangements for the protest so that roads could be pedestrian-friendly and no vehicles are allowed, reported Mumbai Mirror.
According to those present at the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, the number of anti-CAA protesters crossed 1 lakh. The protest also saw several Hindi film actors including Farhan Akhtar, Huma Qureshi and Jim Sarbh attending.
Image credit: Bilal Zaidi
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.