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In a shocking move, Dhanbad in Jharkhand has registered a case of sedition and other related crimes against 3,000 unidentified persons and 7 identified persons for taking part in anti-CAA protests. It is estimated that around 4,000 people took part in this protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). A march was carried out which started from Ara Mora around 10 am on December 7. Despite heavy police deployment the city remained chaotic for hours after the demonstration.
During the protest, allegedly slogans against the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah were raised.
The FIR was filed on a complaint made by Dhanbad Circle Officer Prashant Kumar Laiq for allegedly blocking traffic jams and shouting slogans hurting religious sentiments, without permission. After going through the various videos and pictures of the protest march, the police were able to identify Haji Arif Zameer, Mohd. Sajid, Mohd. Saif Sajjad, Ali Akbar, Mohd. Naushad, Mohd. Saddam and Mohd. Maulana Ghulam Nabi.
The police booked these 7 persons and 3,000 other unidentified persons under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 290 (public nuisance), 291 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 124A (sedition) and few other charges.
Ironically, the newly elected government had, within hours of coming into power decided to withdraw thousands of cases of sedition which were registered against the Adivasis and protesters who took part in the Pathalgadi movement in the state.
The protestors were discussing whether they should mass surrender to police instead of applying for bail.
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