Three protesters on Thursday were shot dead, taking the death toll to nine in the wave of anger that is emerging as a major challenge to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tens of thousands on Thursday filled the streets nationwide, with violence erupting in several places, including Lucknow, Mangaluru and Modi’s home state of Gujarat. In Mangaluru, security forces opened fire on a crowd of about 200 people after they ignored orders to disperse, killing two people, police spokesman Qadir Shah said. Fresh clashes erupted in Lucknow yesterday when police halted a few hundred people on their way to a planned protest, with security forces firing tear gas and charging with batons, a reporter said. The protests have in places seen demonstrators hurl rocks at security forces and set fire to vehicles, while alleged police brutality has fueled the anger.

Source: Taipei Times December 20, 2019 16:05 UTC