Cops cane-charge women in Etawah, over 700 booked

KANPUR: Scores of protesters, including women, staging a dharna against the citizenship law were allegedly lathi-charged in Etawah late Tuesday night.
A video of the incident in which policemen can be seen chasing and cane-charging protesters was also circulated on social media platforms. Policemen in riot gear can also be seen heckling women protesters in the narrow by lanes near Red Cross Society office on Pachraha Road.
Protesters claimed trouble began when cops tried to forcibly remove them from Pachraha road where they had been staging a sit-in since Tuesday morning.They claimed they were staging protest against CAA when cops reached there and accused them of violating Section 144 of CrPC.
Protesters alleged cops used force against them and did not even spare women and children. Refuting allegations, Etawah police issued a communique on Wednesday claiming that cops had to use mild force when a group of men started pelting them with stones.
"Kotwali police have booked at least 12 identified people along with 150-200 unidentified women and 600-700 unidentified men for violating prohibitory orders. Further investigations are on," the communique said.
"On coming to know about the protest, officials of district administrative and police rushed to the spot and tried to disperse the protesters. All of a sudden about 700 men reached the spot and staged a road blockade. Several vehicles, including an ambulance, got stuck in the jam," police said, adding that suddenly the crowd started pelting them with stones forcing them to use mild force.