Coimbatore: Hours after the massive rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) that shook the city, federation of Muslim organizations and Muslim political outfits started a Shaheen Bagh-model indefinite dharna in front of a mosque at Athupalam here on Wednesday night. When the last report came in, around 9,000 people had gathered at the mosque to participate in the dharna.
Shamiyanas were erected in an open place adjacent to Irshadul Islam Shafia Sunnath Jamath mosque at Athupalam for the dharna, which commenced at 9pm.
Initially only around 500 people, comprising elders, women and children, were there. However, the number swelled to 9,000 in no time. The protesters held placards that read 'Kovaiyin Shaheen Bagh Athupalam'. The organizers said the dharma would be conducted peacefully. “It will be similar to the one conducted by women in Delhi.”
The protesters said the dharna would be continued till the Union government accepts to withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Registry of Citizens (NRC).
Earlier in the day, tension had gripped the city after Muslim men and women came out in large numbers to take out a rally to demand that the state government pass a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in the assembly.
The city police had deployed 1,384 cops to prevent any untoward incidents and used drones to keep an eye on the protesters. In view of the call given by the Coimbatore District Federation of All Jamaath and Islamic Organizations to besiege the collectorate at 10am, the city police had also blocked traffic on the Big Bazaar Street and the State Bank of India Road from 9am.
More than 7,000 Muslims, including 2,000 women, who had gathered near the Coimbatore Railway Junction, began the rally towards the collectorate around 11am. Police blocked the road to the collectorate using barricades. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in the front row. Women cops from rural and city armed reserve police carrying lathis and shields were deployed in the second and third rows.
Police had also stationed a water canon vehicle and anti-riot vehicle Vajra that can lob tear gas shells.
City police commissioner Sumit Sharan and deputy commissioners L Balaji Saravanan (law&order), and ES Uma (crime) monitored the security arrangements.
The women protesters sat on the road and raised slogans demanding withdrawal of CAA. They had brought their children, who were waving tricolour flags. Two police drones recorded the protest.
Organiser of the outfit Raja Hussain, who addressed the protesters, said that AIADMK MPs supported CAA in the Parliament and the State government is supporting the Union government. “We are fighting against not only CAA, but the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) also. Several states have passed resolutions in assemblies against CAA. We want the State government to pass a similar resolution,” he said.
Muslims will continue the protest till the Union government withdraws CAA, NPR and NRC, Hussain said.
Traffic was restored through the stretch after the protesters dispersed around 12.30pm.
Shamiyanas were erected in an open place adjacent to Irshadul Islam Shafia Sunnath Jamath mosque at Athupalam for the dharna, which commenced at 9pm.
Initially only around 500 people, comprising elders, women and children, were there. However, the number swelled to 9,000 in no time. The protesters held placards that read 'Kovaiyin Shaheen Bagh Athupalam'. The organizers said the dharma would be conducted peacefully. “It will be similar to the one conducted by women in Delhi.”
The protesters said the dharna would be continued till the Union government accepts to withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Registry of Citizens (NRC).
Earlier in the day, tension had gripped the city after Muslim men and women came out in large numbers to take out a rally to demand that the state government pass a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in the assembly.
The city police had deployed 1,384 cops to prevent any untoward incidents and used drones to keep an eye on the protesters. In view of the call given by the Coimbatore District Federation of All Jamaath and Islamic Organizations to besiege the collectorate at 10am, the city police had also blocked traffic on the Big Bazaar Street and the State Bank of India Road from 9am.
More than 7,000 Muslims, including 2,000 women, who had gathered near the Coimbatore Railway Junction, began the rally towards the collectorate around 11am. Police blocked the road to the collectorate using barricades. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in the front row. Women cops from rural and city armed reserve police carrying lathis and shields were deployed in the second and third rows.
Police had also stationed a water canon vehicle and anti-riot vehicle Vajra that can lob tear gas shells.
City police commissioner Sumit Sharan and deputy commissioners L Balaji Saravanan (law&order), and ES Uma (crime) monitored the security arrangements.
The women protesters sat on the road and raised slogans demanding withdrawal of CAA. They had brought their children, who were waving tricolour flags. Two police drones recorded the protest.
Organiser of the outfit Raja Hussain, who addressed the protesters, said that AIADMK MPs supported CAA in the Parliament and the State government is supporting the Union government. “We are fighting against not only CAA, but the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) also. Several states have passed resolutions in assemblies against CAA. We want the State government to pass a similar resolution,” he said.
Muslims will continue the protest till the Union government withdraws CAA, NPR and NRC, Hussain said.
Traffic was restored through the stretch after the protesters dispersed around 12.30pm.
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