Deadly India citizenship riots overshadow Donald Trump's visit

Violence is ramping up among protesters in New Delhi over a controversial citizenship law, just kilometres from where Donald Trump met Narendra Modi.

Relatives of the victims are brought to the city hospital after the riots broke out in eastern Delhi, New Delhi.

Relatives of the victims are brought to the city hospital after the riots broke out in eastern Delhi, New Delhi. Source: AAP

More than a dozen people have been killed and hundreds have been injured in clashes between protesters in New Delhi, as riots overshadowed US President Donald Trump's first visit to India.

The worst clashes in the capital since unrest over a new citizenship law began in December started at the weekend but turned deadly on Monday.
At least 10 people were killed in two days of clashes that cast a shadow over US President Donald Trump's visit to the country.
At least 10 people were killed in two days of clashes that cast a shadow over US President Donald Trump's visit to the country. Source: AAP
Violence erupted again in multiple areas of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, just kilometres from where Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for talks.
India's capital has been a focus of unrest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which makes it easier for non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-dominated countries to gain Indian citizenship.

Local TV channels showed huge clouds of smoke billowing from a tyre market that had been set ablaze and Reuters witnesses saw mobs wielding sticks and stones walking down streets in parts of northeast Delhi, amid further incidents of stone-throwing.
Some of those protesting the citizenship law alleged that Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its supporters were targeting Muslims and instigating the violence.

"We have no weapons, but they are firing at us," said Mohammad Shakir, a demonstrator opposed to the law.

"This BJP is targeting Muslims. They want to turn India into a Hindu country."
One of the injured is carried to the city hospital after riots broke out in eastern Delhi, New Delhi, India.
One of the injured is carried to the city hospital after riots broke out in eastern Delhi, New Delhi, India. Source: AAP
The Hindu nationalist BJP denies any bias against India's more than 180 million minority Muslims.

An official at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi said 13 people had died there and more than 150 injured had been treated at the hospital, many for bullet wounds.

An official at the Al-Hind Hospital in New Delhi said two men had died and more than 200 injured had been treated there.


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Published 26 February 2020 5:42am
Updated 22 February 2022 6:21pm


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