Section 144 imposed in Shaheen Bagh; police deployed in large number even as Hindu Sena calls off protest

Security presence has been increased and Section 144 imposed in the Shaheen Bagh area on Sunday even though the Hindu Sena had yesterday called off a protest calling for clearing the blocked road. [caption id=“attachment_7971211” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi. PTI[/caption] People have been advised not to assemble, even as Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been imposed in the area. “People are informed that Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed here and it is requested that permission for any gathering is not allowed. Violation of this may invite legal proceedings,” the Delhi Police directive stated, as reported by ANI. Twelve companies, including two of female forces, have been deployed in Shaheen Bagh, 100 men each from four police districts have also been deployed along with the local police, the official said. “The proposed protest call was cancelled with timely intervention. But as a precautionary measure, we have made heavy police deployment here,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena told PTI. “We have personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force and the Delhi Police. We want peace to prevail in the area,” Srivastava told ANI. The senior police officer said the aim is to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident from occurring. The police deployment has come after a fringe right-wing group, Hindu Sena, gave a call to clear the Shaheen Bagh road on 1 March. However on Saturday, with the intervention of police, they called off their proposed protest against the anti-CAA agitation in Shaheen Bagh. The Hindu Sena said in a statement police pressured them to call off their protest on Sunday against the Shaheen Bagh agitation. Shaheen Bagh, near Jamia Millia Islamia, has been a protest venue for a section of people opposed to the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens since 15 December last year.