Security has been beefed up near Ranchi’s “Shaheen Bagh” venue near Haj House in Kadru in the wake of the violence in that has erupted Delhi over the new citizenship matrix.

In Dhanbad too, the district administration and police have increased vigil at Ara Mor in Wasseypur and Naya Bazar, where non-stop anti-citizenship matrix demonstrations are on.

Since January 20, around 500 women are protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) in Kadru, Ranchi.

In Dhanbad district, a group is holding an indefinite dharna at Ara Mor since January 2 and another since January 27.

Protesters in both the Jharkhand cities have taken care not to disturb traffic or block roads. However, police are not taking chances.

In Ranchi, as many as 50 police personnel have been deputed at the Kadru protest site to keep close vigil.

Tiger mobile (cops on bikes) and Shakti commandos (women cops on scooters) have also been deputed for regular patrolling of the area.

Argora police station officer in-charge Binod Kumar said cops have been asked to stay alert and ensure trouble makers don’t spark mischief.

“Last night (Monday) I received a tip-off that some 2,000 pro-CAA people were likely to pass through the Kadru venue in the form of a procession. Alert police personnel deputed at the venue made it clear that this was nothing more than a rumour,” OC Kumar said.

The women at Wasseypur in Dhanbad stage the demonstration for the 55th day against the citizenship matrix. Picture by Shabbir Hussain

President of Anjuman Islamia, Ibrar Ahmed, supported OC Kumar. “Since the first day, the administration has given us proper security arrangements. From Monday, they are more alert. Someone did pass through the locality raising objectionable slogan but later we came to know he was drunk,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed said he did not anticipate trouble as “people from all castes and communities are extending support to the protest”.

“During the night, other than police, people from all communities remain present to support the agitating women. Also, I don’t see any aggression towards the protesting women.”

Tanveer Alam, who briefs the media every day about the protest, however, said that there were trouble makers trying to disturb peace.

“Our volunteers often hear slogans of Desh ke gaddaro ko goli maro (shoot the traitors). These people come either on bikes or cars, shout the slogans and speed off, but we do stay worried.

“On February 3, two scooter-borne youths pelted stones on the women at the sit-in. A youth, Mohammed Hashim, was hurt,” Alam said.

In Dhanbad, senior superintendent of police Kishore Kaushal told The Telegraph that they were not taking chances and had increased vigil at protest sites in view of the Delhi clashes.

“Though protest sites in Dhanbad are away from rush areas, we have increased vigil to avoid untoward incidents and put respective police stations on alert,” he said.

Dhanbad sub-divisional officer Raj Maheshwaram added that protests were being held on raiyati (private) land away from public areas but still they were on high alert.

“On January 21, a meeting of the district administration and various political parties, NGOs and social outfits decided no big rallies or marches would be taken up against or for the citizenship matrix. The dharnas underway are at two private sites,” he said.