<p>Residents of Bhiwandi near Mumbai on Wednesday felicitated a police officer for the police's deft handling of a huge protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act last week.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde was felicitated in the traditional Maharashtrian way, with gift of shawl and a `shri-fal' (coconut).</p>.<p>Bhiwandi, a hub of powerloom industry in Thane district, is considered communally sensitive and had witnessed major Hindu-Muslim riots in the 1970s and 1980s.</p>.<p>Nearly one lakh people came out on the streets last Friday after namaz and took part in a protest march against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).</p>.<p>But the protest passed off peacefully, ending after a memorandum was submitted to the local authorities.</p>.<p>A large number of Muslim women participated in the felicitation on Wednesday. Some of them spoke on the occasion, praising Shinde and the police force.</p>.<p>Talking to reporters, Shinde said the police were receiving praise on social media too.</p>.<p>The officials meticulously planned security and used drones, CCTVs and public address system to keep a watch and manage the crowds, he said.</p>.<p>Police communicated with protesters, assuring them that they will get full cooperation, he said.</p>.<p>Shinde thanked the people for maintaining peace.</p>.<p>The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act provides for grant of citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who migrated from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015 due to persecution.</p>.<p>It has sparked off nationwide protests. The Act's critics allege that it discriminates against Muslims and violates the principle of secularism.</p>
<p>Residents of Bhiwandi near Mumbai on Wednesday felicitated a police officer for the police's deft handling of a huge protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act last week.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde was felicitated in the traditional Maharashtrian way, with gift of shawl and a `shri-fal' (coconut).</p>.<p>Bhiwandi, a hub of powerloom industry in Thane district, is considered communally sensitive and had witnessed major Hindu-Muslim riots in the 1970s and 1980s.</p>.<p>Nearly one lakh people came out on the streets last Friday after namaz and took part in a protest march against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).</p>.<p>But the protest passed off peacefully, ending after a memorandum was submitted to the local authorities.</p>.<p>A large number of Muslim women participated in the felicitation on Wednesday. Some of them spoke on the occasion, praising Shinde and the police force.</p>.<p>Talking to reporters, Shinde said the police were receiving praise on social media too.</p>.<p>The officials meticulously planned security and used drones, CCTVs and public address system to keep a watch and manage the crowds, he said.</p>.<p>Police communicated with protesters, assuring them that they will get full cooperation, he said.</p>.<p>Shinde thanked the people for maintaining peace.</p>.<p>The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act provides for grant of citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who migrated from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015 due to persecution.</p>.<p>It has sparked off nationwide protests. The Act's critics allege that it discriminates against Muslims and violates the principle of secularism.</p>