In December 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the contentious Citizen Amendment Act

2019. The law allows the government to expedite citizenship through naturalisation to six
migrant communities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, excluding Muslims.
The law is against the Indian constitution's basic structure and violates Art 14 of the
constitution that mandates non-discrimination. 1The government also plans to conduct an
exercise to create a National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country.

The NRC is an official record of those who are legal Indian citizens. It includes
demographic information about all those individuals who qualify as citizens of India as per
the Citizenship Act, 1955. The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and
since then it has not been updated until recently. So far, it has only been updated for the
state of Assam. 2 On November 20, Home Minister Amit Shah declared during a
parliamentary session that the register would be extended to the entire country. 3 However,
with the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 coming into play, the NRC will indiscriminately
target the Muslim population in India.

Many protests have sprung up in the country against CAA-NRC. In several places across
India the police have tried to brutally crush the peaceful protests. The police attacks have
been especially brutal in Muslim universities and the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Specifically, Jamia Millia Islamia Univerity in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University in
Aligarh.

State Violence in Jamia Millia Islamia University

On the morning of 15 December 2019, more than two thousand students of Jamia joined
the protests against CAA in Delhi.4 Jamia Millia Student Body and Jamia Millia Islamia
Teacher’s Association (JTA) condemned the violence that happened on the same day in
Delhi and stated that no student or teacher was involved in the violence.5 At 6:46 pm on 15
December 2019, hundreds of police officers forcefully entered the campus of Jamia,
without the permission of college authority.6 The police used batons and tear gas on the
protesting students.7 Nearly a hundred students were detained by the Delhi police and
released at 3:30 am next morning.8 The visuals of students being dragged and assaulted by
the police was telecast by news channels. Students from all across Delhi joined the
agitation. About two hundred people were injured and were admitted to AIIMS and
the Holy Family Hospital.9

1
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/et-explains/citizenship-amendment-bill-what-does-it-do-and-
why-is-it-seen-as-a-problem/articleshow/72436995.cms
2
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/what-is-nrc-all-you-need-to-know-about-national-register-of-citizens-
1629195-2019-12-18
3
https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-the-nationwide-nrc-proposed-by-amit-shah-is-
being-criticised-1621483-2019-11-22
4
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/15/india/india-protests-assam-delhi-citizenship-intl-hnk/index.html
5
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-act-protests-north-east-assam-guwahati-
tripura-west-bengal-live-updates
6
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-act-protests-north-east-assam-guwahati-
tripura-west-bengal-live-updates
7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/protests-erupt-across-india-against-new-citizenship-
law-after-police-storm-university-campus/2019/12/16/9ebbeae6-1ff0-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html
8
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-mau-protesters-cops-clash-over-citizenship-law-vehicles-
burnt-police-use-tear-gas-2149780
9
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/protests-erupt-across-india-against-new-citizenship-
law-after-police-storm-university-campus/2019/12/16/9ebbeae6-1ff0-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html
On 16 December 2019, two students of Jamia were admitted to the Safdarjung
Hospital with bullet injuries received during the protests on 15 December.10 One of the
victims, M. Tamin stated that he was not participating in the protest and was passing
through the area on a motorcycle, when police suddenly started caning the protesters and
he was shot in the leg by police from point blank range.11

State violence in Aligarh Muslim University

On 15 December, protests against CAA were held outside the campus of the Aligarh
Muslim University as well. On the evening of 15 December, police officers forcefully
entered the campus of the University and assaulted the students. At least 60 students were
injured including the president of the students Union. The access to the internet was
restricted in the area by the district administration. The university was closed from 15
December till 5 January 2020.12 A report by three activist-lawyers alleged that the police
had resorted to “deceptive shelling”, firing explosives camouflaged as tear gas shells during
the crackdown.13

On 19 December, People's Union for Democratic Rights' fact-finding team consisting of

activists Yogendra Yadav, Harsh Mander and Kavita Krishnan released a report on police
crackdown at the Aligarh Muslim University. The report alleged that the police had called
the students as terrorists and had used religiously charged slogans such as "Jai Shri Ram".
The report also accused the police of breaking the protocols of the campus. It added that
no bullet injury was reported. The report was prepared after visiting the campus, based on
the video and audio clips of the incident, statements of the injured students and
witnesses. 14

State violence across Uttar Pradesh

Citizen protests erupted in Aligarh, Kanpur, Bareilly, Varanasi and Lucknow as
well.15 Banaras Hindu University students also protested in support of AMU and Jamia
students.16

On 19 December, the administration banned public assembly all over the state to prevent
further protests in the state.17 In Lucknow several buses, cars, media vans and motorbikes
were torched. A protester named Mohammad Vakil died due to gunshot injuries in the

10
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/protests-erupt-across-india-against-new-citizenship-
law-after-police-storm-university-campus/2019/12/16/9ebbeae6-1ff0-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html
11
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-protest-aftermath-passerby-shot-in-leg-claims-police-took-
shot-without-cause-1628811-2019-12-16
12
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/students-injured-in-police-crackdown-at-aligarh-muslim-
university/article30313968.ece
13
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bared-police-brutality-on-amu-students/cid/1728324
14
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/police-violated-protocols-report-of-fact-finding-team-on-
amu-clash/story-phacx0Yf5m1EitFvl8r3zM.html
15
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/protests-against-citizenship-amendment-act-continue-in-
up/story-xFxDfPruuMyjIVPrsjTo6I.html
16
https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-protests-live-updates-jamia-millia-
islamia-citizenship-act-2019-amu-assam-west-bengal-2425443.html
17
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-caa-protests-live-updates-december-19/article30345949.ece
stomach.18 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath stated that the authorities would
seize the properties of those who indulge in violence in the state.19

On 20 December 2019, six protesters are killed in police firing in UP.20 Arif (25), Zaheer
(40), and Moshin (25) from Meerut, while Anas (22) and Sulaiman (26) from Nehtaur
area, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.21 Rights activists in Uttar Pradesh, said local policemen were
conducting raids on their houses and offices to prevent them from planning fresh
demonstrations. The death toll from Friday's protests in Uttar Pradesh's 13 districts rose to
16.22 Amid police crackdown across Uttar Pradesh over the protests, families in Bijnor's
Nehtaur alleged that vandalism by the state police has forced them to flee their homes.23

On 24 December, Uttar Pradesh Police stated that 21,500 people were charged in 15 FIRs
for violent incidents in Kanpur.24 In Muzaffarnagar the government, sealed 67 shops. Chief
Minister, Adityanath had threatened the protesters that his government would auction the
properties of the rioters to recover the losses due to the damage made to the
property.25 Several CCTV videos were released from the public in Muzaffarnagar that
showed Police personnel vandalising property, damaging cars and shops, even though the
government blamed the protesters for the damage.26 27 28

On 28 December, Indian Express reported that with 19 killed and 1,246 people arrested
based on 372 FIRs lodged in the state, UP was the worst affected state with the biggest
police crackdown in India.29 UP Police and paramilitary forces also used security drones to
monitor people and to prevent people from gathering to protest.30 In Meerut, a police
officer was seen on video telling Muslim protesters to "Go to Pakistan”, as the Chief
Minister of the state continued to praise the actions of his police force.31

18
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/violent-caa-protests-take-3-lives-internet-shutdown-mangaluru-
deaths-highlights-1629878-2019-12-19
19
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/caa-protests-will-seize-properties-of-those-who-indulge-in-violence-
says-yogi-adityanath-1629778-2019-12-19
20
https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-live-updates-citizenship-act-section-144-
bangalore-uttar-pradesh-delhi-internet-services-2430121.html
21
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/6-killed-as-up-protests-against-citizenship-law-turn-
violent/article30361932.ece
22
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/modi-summons-ministers-india-protests-death-toll-increases-
191221063611978.html
23
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bijnor-ground-report-muslim-families-flee-as-up-police-vandalise-
homes-harass-women-after-clashes-over-caa-1631046-2019-12-24
24
https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/21-500-booked-for-violence-in-kanpur-1631048-2019-12-24
25
https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/cops-barged-into-our-homes-at-night-smashed-everything-
snatched-cash-and-jewellery-say-muzaffarnagars-muslim-families-2435565.html
26
https://www.siasat.com/rakshak-bane-bhakshak-army-police-vandalize-properties-1773407/
27
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/shocking-up-police-caught-vandalising-property-in-
muzaffarnagar-during-anti-caa-protests-watch/531626
28
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-act-video-shows-cops-vandalising-shops-
vehicles-in-ups-kanpur-amid-protests-2154193
29
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/citizenship-amendment-act-caa-protest-live-updates-rahul-gandhi-
uttar-pradesh-assam-6188619/
30
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/caa-protests-nrc-drones-to-bandobast-to-peace-meetings-up-has-a-
quiet-friday-6188236/
31
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2019/12/pakistan-india-officer-leader-praises-crackdown-
191228080506372.html
As of 27 December 2019, 19 people were killed in the CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh,3233 3
killed in Karnataka34 and 5 in Assam. All the three states are ruled by BJP. Overall 27
people were killed in the whole of India.35 36

Internet shutdowns
Apart from brutal police crackdowns, the government also imposed internet shutdowns in
the states of Assam and Tripura, five districts in West Bengal, Bhopal and parts of Delhi.37
38 39 40 Mobile internet and SMS services were suspended in several places in Uttar

Pradesh such as Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Meerut and Prayagraj.41 42

Arbitrary imposition of Section 144

The government has also been liberally imposing Section 144. Section 144 is a British-era
tool, only meant to be imposed during emergency. This tool prohibits gathering of more
than 4 people in any space 43. By imposing this section arbitrarily, and the consequent
detentions, the government has restricted people’s ability to peacefully agitate against
these unconstitutional policies. In Delhi also Section 144 has been imposed in places where
people were planning to gather to protest against CAA. Several metro stations have been
shut down. In Uttar Pradesh Section 144 has been imposed statewide and internet services
suspended in several places. Basically an emergency tool is being used in place of basic
police work and more so as a political tool to suppress mass questioning of government
policy. 44

Silence from the Prime Minister

32
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/caa-protests-uttar-pradesh-numbers-1631855-2019-12-27
33
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-caa-protests-toll-rises-to-15-in-uttar-pradesh-vandalism-
during-bihar-bandh/article30368185.ece
34
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-caa-protests-toll-rises-to-15-in-uttar-pradesh-vandalism-
during-bihar-bandh/article30368185.ece
35
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/internet-banned-india-uttar-pradesh-anger-killings-
191227060434667.html
36
https://thewire.in/rights/anti-caa-protest-deaths
37
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/internet-services-suspended-in-5-districts-of-bengal-
amid-119121500303_1.html
38
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/anti-citizenship-bill-protests-army-deployed-in-
assam-tripura-internet-suspended/article30277108.ece
39
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mobile-internet-services-suspended-mangaluru-city-and-
dakshina-kannada-48-hours-114410
40
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-internet-shutdown-did-not-come-via-right-channel-
digital-right-activists/articleshow/72896669.cms
41
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/anti-caa-protests-mobile-internet-sms-remain-shut-
in-parts-of-up-including-lucknow/article30356036.ece
42
https://www.news18.com/news/india/as-violence-grips-up-internet-suspended-in-ghaziabad-prayagraj-
bareilly-lucknow-could-be-hit-too-2429997.html
43
https://www.business-standard.com/about/what-is-section-144
44
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/twinkle-twinkle/caa-nrc-saga-the-draconian-section-144-baton/
Despite the continuing reportage of police violence, Prime Minister Narendra has not
bothered to condemn the actions of the police in Uttar Pradesh or elsewhere, instead
labelled the protests politically motivated. 45

India under Narendra Modi-led BJP Government

Lynchings of Minorities

Since, the Narendra Modi led government has come into power, instances of lynchings of
minorities, especially Muslims have increased at a rapid rate. Most of these lynchings are
have been attributed to Hindu Nationalist Groups. Human Rights Watch counted at least
44 murders over three years. Hundreds more have been injured. There have been very few
prosecutions and hardly any public outrage. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not
denounced this violent strain of Hindu nationalism. 46

Compromised Constitutional Institutions

Under the Modi government, constitutional institutions like the Central Bureau of
Investigation, Reserve Bank of India, the Election Commission, the judiciary, Central
Information Commission have been severely compromised, as the current government
continues to undermine their independence and autonomy. 47

Abrogation of Article 370

Article 370 in the Indian constitution is the link through which Kashmir acceded to
independent India. Article 370 acknowledged the special status of the state of Jammu and
Kashmir in terms of autonomy and its ability to formulate laws for the state's permanent
residents. 48 By abrogating this article overnight, and bringing Jammu and Kashmir under

45
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/caa-protests-continue-in-delhi-states-pm-modi-says-no-all-india-nrc-
1630663-2019-12-22
46
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/19/752292498/spate-of-lynchings-target-minorities-especially-muslims-in-
india
47
https://scroll.in/article/900097/from-cbi-to-rbi-an-incomplete-list-of-institutions-that-narendra-modi-has-
undermined-or-threatened
48
https://www.business-standard.com/about/what-is-article-370
central rule, without consultations with local citizenry, politicians or civil society. As soon
as this was implemented, local politicians were arrested, Section 144 imposed and a
complete communication blackout was imposed over the state. 49

49
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/internet-shut-down-house-arrests-the-new-normal-in-kashmir-
chidambaram-1582402-2019-08-19