(Image source from: asianage.com)

The prohibitory orders banning four or more people assembling in the district have been extended till February 25, 2020 by the authorities of Uttar Pradesh in the view of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act.

Anuj Kumar Jha, the district magistrate of Ayodhya said that the extension of the Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been made as a precautionary measure in the midst of the violence that has been made across the state over the Citizenship Act that was amended.

Prohibition of the assembly of four or more people at a place comes under Section 144. however,all the religious activities will be exempted from the Section 144 as such Makar Sankrathi fair which is on January 15.

Hundreds of devotees from the neighbouring districts are expected to assemble in Ayodhya in order to take a holy dip in River Saryu on Makar Sankranthi and precautions will be taken from any kind of protests being staged.

Violent protests were made across the state regarding the Citizenship amendment act in which at least 21 people have died although Ayodhya has remained peaceful.

The Citizenship Amendment law which has been passed seeks in providing Indian citizenship to the non-Muslim communities i.e., Hindus, Christians, Buddists, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains from the three neighbouring countries Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh who have been facing religious persecutions there and who came to India on or before December 31,2014.

By Shrithika Kushangi