Section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru for three days starting from 6 am on Thursday to December 21 at midnight. The prohibitory orders have been imposed siting protests and gatherings planned by various organizations in the city on Thursday and Friday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Section 144 imposed in Bengaluru
A bandh was called by some organizations on Thursday in Karnataka, following which government on Wednesday announced the imposition of Section 144 across Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
The decision comes a day after protests saw a war-like situation in Delhi and other parts of the North-Eastern states, especially Assam. The city Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has said, “Section 144 has been imposed throughout Bengaluru, including the rural district, from tomorrow 6 AM for the next three days.”
Section 144 which forbids gatherings of more than four persons, will come into force from 6 am on Thursday and will be applicable till midnight of 21 December or Saturday. The extra police force will be placed in the city viewing conflicts amongst the protesters.
No permission for the protest
Bhaskar Rao also informed that 80 organizations, some against and some supporting CAA had come to ask permission from the police to march a protest on Thursday. However, all requests were refused by the police. He said there will be no permissions given to protests of any kind in the city.
When questioned if the police were dismissing people their fundamental right to protest, Rao said, “It is clearly against fundamental right, but a fundamental right ends when somebody else’s well being is affected.”
“But today after having examined that there is a huge number of people who are for and against, we decided that both should not be permitted,” Rao said.
Rao continued that schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will function normally. There will be no problem with transport including the BMTC fleet. Government offices will also be open as usual. And there will be no ban on the sale of liquor as well.
