Police stop NE protesters in Chennai

Police in Chennai have broken up a protest by youngsters from the north-eastern states against the new citizenship law. 

The Parliament approved the law last week, which allows Indian citizenship for persecuted members of minority communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 

India's north-eastern border states fear the law will alter the demographics. 

About 200 protesters, mostly workers based in the city, gathered at the Marina after coordinating on social media, reports said. 

It said police told them that protests cannot be held without permission and instead relocated them to Valluvar Kottam, a site where protests are regularly staged. 

The protesters said they would hold their demonstration till the end of the day.