Seven dead, 150 injured as Trump visits New Delhi

At least seven people were killed and about 150 were injured in clashes in the Indian capital during protests over a new citizenship law, police officials told newsmen on Tuesday.

The deadly protests came as US President Donald Trump is in New Delhi for formal talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Seven persons including one head constable of Delhi police have died,” said Anil Mittal, a Delhi police officer, adding that around 150 persons were injured in the violence.

The clashes erupted between thousands demonstrating for and against the new citizenship law. Police used tear gas and smoke grenades, but struggled to disperse the stone-throwing crowds which again appeared on Delhi’s streets on Tuesday.

The violence began with incidents of stone-pelting on Sunday, following a rally by BJP leader Kapil Mishra to oppose the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the area.

Nearly 150 were also injured in the unprecedented violence, including 48 police personnel who have been hospitalised. Three firefighters have been injured after a group of people set a fire engine ablaze and threw stones at another. 

The violence took place as Trump was being feted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat on Monday and also on Tuesday when the US president was in New Delhi.

Also, Monday, Hindu nationalist and communist groups held pro- and anti-U.S. street demonstrations in the capital.

India has been rocked by violence since Parliament approved a new citizenship law in December that provides fast-track naturalisation for some foreign-born religious minorities but not Muslims.