India, 20 dead and hundreds injured during riots

Delhi, India’s capital, has been the epicentre of unrest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which makes it easier for non-Muslims from some neighbouring Muslim-dominated countries to gain Indian citizenship.

Sectarian violence between Hindu and Muslim groups erupted between thousands demonstrating for and against the new citizenship law introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.

After some of the worst violence in the capital in decades, police used tear gas, pellets and smoke grenades, but struggled to disperse stone-throwing mobs.

In the rioting 20 people have been killed with over 200 thought to be injured, some with severe injuries such as gunshot wounds. Eye witnesses saw mobs wielding sticks, pipes and stones walking down streets in parts of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, amid incidents of arson, looting and stone-pelting. At least two mosques in northeast Delhi were set on fire in the rioting.

By Wednesday, riot-hit areas were deserted after paramilitary and police forces were deployed in greater numbers. There were no reports of any fighting so far.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, directly responsible for law and order in the national capital area, held multiple high-level meetings to assess the situation and urged politicians to avoid provocative speeches that could fan tensions.

The Home Ministry also appointed a special commissioner of the Delhi Police to help bring the situation under control.

SOURCE: (REUTERS)