UJARIAON WOMEN BOOKED FOR CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY
Women being instigated to attend the protest, say cops
LUCKNOW : Police on Thursday booked five identified and a number of unidentified women for criminal conspiracy and unlawful assembly in Ujariaon on the outskirts, said a cop. The women were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The women gathered at a dargah in Ujariaon on Monday evening and tried to pitch in tent for holding a sit-in against CAA, NRC. Late in the night, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad’s advocate Mehmood Pracha reached the Clock Tower protest site amidst talk of Chandrashekhar visiting the protesters soon.
LUCKNOW: Police on Thursday booked five identified and a number of unidentified women for criminal conspiracy and unlawful assembly in Ujariaon on the outskirts, said a cop. The women were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.
The women gathered at a dargah in Ujariaon on Monday evening and tried to pitch in tent for holding a sit-in against CAA, NRC. Police reached the sport and took away the tent, telling the women that such a protest was in violation of section 144 of CrPC which was enforced in the city in view of Republic Day and defense expo.
Station house officer (SHO) Gomtinagar Amit Kumar Dubey said, “We were trying to negotiate with the women but they got aggressive and started sloganeering and also threatened to bring more women.”
He said the initial probe hinted that the women were being instigated to attend the protest. “We have booked five identified and 100-125 unidentified women under 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 188 (disobeying government order) 145 (Unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal code (IPC),” added he. The police are also investigating the role of people behind the protest. A cop requesting anonymity said, “Lucknow recently saw a violent protest. We are not taking any chances and force is deployed. Section 144 is imposed in the city.”
A few days ago, police had registered three FIRs in Clock Tower area against 24 identified and several unidentified protesters. Sixteen women were named in the FIRs, including two daughters of poet Munawwar Rana.
CLOCK TOWER PROTEST SANS A LEADER
The protest against CAA and NRC started by a group of women at Clock Tower completed a week on Thursday. The protest has so far remained leaderless and people have joined in without any public appeal for support.
From Day 1 the protest has been anchored by a group of around 50 women who stay at the Clock Tower even at night. The members of this anchor group keep changing and so do their numbers.
A group of Sikh women also joined the protest and organised prayers. Harm an deep Kaur, 36, said, “We are here to show our solidarity with these brave women who have been protesting against this divisive bill. We also prayed for these women.”
Earlier, the women protesters organised havan and Quran recitation at the site. They also conduct reading of the Preamble and the Constitution. Various women groups and social activists have extended their support to the protest.
A group of advocates also participated and assured the protesters of legal aid if they were arrested.
The protesters spend their time reading the Constitution, singing the national anthem and patriotic songs and writing antiNRC and anti-CAA messages on the pavement in front of the Clock Tower. All these activities take place simultaneously.
A protester Roshan Begum, 45, said, “Majority of women here in support of the protest have come on their own. Nobody called anyone. The only thing that is common among the protesters is their love for the country and their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens.”
The protesters also appeal for peace. Men are asked to stay away from the protest site. The women thwart any possible action by offering roses and food to police personnel deployed near the Clock Tower.
On Thursday, the women greeted a group of senior officials by singing the national anthem together.
“Hum Gandhi ko maanane wale hain, hinsa par bilkul bharosa nahi rakhte. Date rahenge aur CAA ke khilaf ladte rahenge (We are believers in Gandhi, we don’t have faith in violence. We will stay here and continue our fight against CAA),” said Meher Ansari, 29.