india 26 dead

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) –

The Uttar Pradesh(UP) government on Sunday has blamed Islamic outfits for violence in the state against the amended Citizenship Act, as the death toll in protests across the countries rose to 26.

The UP government has claimed to have arrested six people associated with Islamic outfits Popular Front of India and Students' Islamic Movement of India, said news agency Press Trust of India(PTI).

According to PTI, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma alleged 'outsiders role' in the incidents of violence reported from various districts of the state during demonstrations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and that protesters had used illegal firearms.

"There is involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI). They have connection with SIMI. Six people from Malda have been arrested," he said in press conference, according to PTI.

Students' Islamic Movement of India or SIMI is a banned terror outfit.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the violence in Uttar Pradesh in Meerut have rose to five on Sunday, said a police official.

As a precautionary measure, internet services have been suspended in several districts of UP till Monday.

More than 100 people have also been arrested in different parts of the state in connection with violent protests, said an official.





The Citizenship Amendment Act passed by Indian parliament grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, but blocks naturalization for Muslims.

Muslim leaders believe the new law will be linked to a nationwide exercise where every citizen would be asked to prove Indian citizenship.