Bengaluru, December 18: The Karnataka Police on Thursday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in capital Bengaluru and some other parts of the state. The imposition section 144 bars the assembly of more than five people in public places. The restrictionary order is aimed at preventing the mobilisation of protesters who are demonstrating against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Puducherry Joins Punjab, MP, Bengal, Kerala to Oppose CAA; CM V Narayanasamy Says Law Won't be Implemented.

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, while speaking to reporters, said the prohibitory orders were necessitated as the government does not want the state to be gripped under violent anti-CAA protests. The decision comes amid demonstrations held in several minority-dominated pockets of the state, where Muslims have come out in large numbers.

Prohibitory Orders in Shivamogga

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Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said "sit-in demonstrations" would be allowed to be held under the police watch. The numbers of such demonstrations are expected to be regulated to prevent the large-scale mobilisation of protesters.

Two major protests were planned in Bengaluru on Thursday -- the first to be held at the Town Hall at 11 am under the aegis of "'Hum Bharat ke Log''. The agitation is being supported by several civil society groups and Opposition parties in the state. The second agitation is also planned at the same venue at 5 pm, and is being held under the leadership of several students' unions of the state.

The amended citizenship law, which mandates the naturalise non-Muslim refugees who entered India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan on or before December 31, 2014. The CAA, along with the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, is being seen as a ploy by a section of Muslims to strip them of their citizenship.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2019 09:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).