As CAA protests grip Delhi, graffiti covers city walls | See photos

Largely peaceful protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent in Delhi late on Friday evening. Protesters pelted stones and torched a car in front of a police station near Delhi Gate in Delhi's Daryaganj.

The walled city became the epicentre of the protest as a large number of people held a massive protest around the Jama Masjid after the Friday prayers at the mosque, defying prohibitory orders and police clampdown.

They were supported by the Bhim Army chief, Chandra Shekher Azad alias Ravan. Delhi Police used water cannon and resorted to lathicharge to control the protesters.

Delhi Police claimed to have detained 40 persons for setting vehicles on fire and pelting stones at the police personnel. The car was torched in front of central districts DCP office.

The road leading to Jama Masjid was littered with footwear and stones as police chased away the protesters from the area. At least 15 protesters were injured during the lathicharge and two of them were taken to nearby LNJP hospital for treatment.

An announcement was made from a nearby mosque in Delhi Gate hours before the violence broke out, urging people to maintain peace and go back home as they had already expressed their anguish over the new law. The protest on Friday was centralised in Old Delhi.

Azad, who also met Shahi Imam, was seen at gate number 1 of the iconic place of Delhi, holding a poster of BR Ambedkar. After a meeting with Imam, Azad, in a tweet had said that he will never allow the Narendra Modi government to change the Constitution. He was later detained by the Delhi Police.

Delhi Police had a tough time as the situation remained tense in Northeast Delhi's Seelampur, and Shaheen Bagh. "We are monitoring the entire area through drone cameras to identify goons," said AK Thakur, DCP of south district.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in 12 police station areas of Northeast Delhi, officials said, adding police used drones to keep a tab on the law and order situation in the district.