Over 1,500 gathered at the Makkah Masjid soon after Friday prayers to raise their voice against the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. Police detained as many as 15 of the protesters.
Despite the presence of City Police and the Rapid Action Force, the namazis gathered outside the masjid in huge numbers and began to sloganeer. Religious chants and slogans against NRC and CAA resonated in the Old City skies.
As the numbers swelled, mild tension prevailed in the area. The police slowly pushed protesters away from the gates of the masjid after which they dispersed near the Shalibanda area.
According to cops, no untoward incident was reported and there was no violence. In-charge DCP (South Zone) Avinash Mohanty said that around 14 persons were detained in connection with the protests.
Eyewitnesses said that at least five the persons who were detained were put on a bus, but were later moved into police jeep.
Protests, which appeared as unplanned, were seen at the Jama Masjid Darusshifa. Around 150 people gathered in the vast grounds and raised slogans. However, Maulana Jafar Pasha announced from the speakers that protesters should go home.
In the newer parts of the city, such as Amberpet, Humayun Nagar and Banjara Hills, a large number of people gathered near masjids and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre. They also asserted that Hindu and Muslims are bound by the love of country and brotherhood.