Highlights: Opposition rallies against CAA, NRC as BJP pushes pro-campaign

Thousands of police and paramilitary are on the streets in Uttar Pradesh to ensure peace for Friday prayers.

3:02 PM

Protesters gather at Delhi's Jama Masjid

Hundreds people gather outside Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi to protest against the new citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). "Is desh ko NRC, NPR nahi chaiye. Is desh ko rozgaar chahiye. Is desh ko aman aur shanti chahiye (This country does not need NRC, NPR, it needs jobs. The country needs peace and amity)," PTI quoted a protester as saying

2:54 PM

Bhim Army supporters march to PM Modi's residence

Police stop hundreds of people marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in central Delhi to press for the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, who was arrested last week for his protests against the citizenship law and NRC. The protesters had their hands tied so they can't be blamed for violence and arson during the protest, PTI reported.

 

1:10 PM

Delhi steps up security

Delhi Police march through northeast Delhi's Seelampur, Jafrabad, Welcome and Mustafabad to ensure peace. Hundreds of police are deployed in Jamia Nagar, Jama Masjid and Chanakyapuri to prevent violence during protests again the citizenship law. Protesters will also gather at Jama Masjid after Friday prayers.

12:08 PM

372 people served property-confiscation notice in UP

Uttar Pradesh government has served notices to 372 people in different districts, saying their properties will be confiscated for damaging public assets during protests, reports news agency PTI.

 

11:57 AM

19 killed in UP in violence: State govt

A spokesperson for Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department on Thursday said 19 had died in the state during days of protest. As many as 327 FIRs were registered and 5,558 preventive arrests made. At least 288 policemen were injured.

11:32 AM

Internet off in a third of UP after days of protests

Nearly a third of Uttar Pradesh has had internet switched off in the past few days, reports NDTV.com. Internet has been snapped in a third of Uttar Pradesh 21 of 75 districts in UP, according to the state police chief. Government authorities have switched off internet because they fear violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act after Friday prayers.

 

10:12 AM

Police march through Gorakhpur

Police marched through Gorakhpur and met with peace committees after violence in the northeast Uttar Pradesh town on November 20. Paramilitary force and state police have been deployed in the city, Gorakhpur District Magistrate Vijyendra Pandiyan told PTI.

 

10:05 AM

Internet off again in UP cities

Internet suspended in Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli again after nearly a week of service. In Agra, internet will be suspended till Friday evening, reported news agency PTI quoting an unnamed police officer.

 

9:56 AM

BJP has a Hindutva project: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram says the citizenship law and NRC prove the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to "somehow implement its Hindu Rashtra" project. Chidambaram said that countrywide protests against the CAA should not be portrayed as an issue between the government and Muslims because "that is what government is also wanting".

9:50 AM

US Congress's research wing flags India's new citizenship law

India's new citizenship law along with a proposal to have a register of citizens may affect the status of Muslims in India, says a report by the Congressional Research Service, an independent research wing of the US Congress. The December report says that for the first time in independent India's history, a religious criterion has been added to the country's naturalization process.

9:43 AM

More than a thousand arrested in UP: Report

Uttar Pradesh police have arrested 1,113 people in 327 cases registered so far and placed another 5,558 people under preventive detention, accusing them of violence and damaging public property during protests. This is the biggest police crackdown in Uttar Pradesh since the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots when 1,480 people were arrested in 567 cases, reports the Indian Express.