Historian Ramachandra Guha was detained in Bengaluru on Thursday morning during a protest at Town Hall against an amended citizenship law that critics believe is anti-Muslim.
A video shows Guha, 61, holding a poster that reads, "CAA [Citizenship Amendment Act] against Constitution", and arguing with city police as they take him away.
Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of more than four people, has been imposed across Bengaluru and Mangaluru; prohibitory orders will remain in place in the state capital till late at night on Saturday, December 21.
The Bengaluru city police has issued an advisory asking the public not to pay heed to rumours. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, a senior BJP leader, claimed the Congress was behind the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
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The law offers citizenship to Pakistani, Afghan and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants who fled their home countries to escape religious persecution. It covers six minority religious groups, but not Islamic ones.
Yediyurappa said it was the government's responsibility to take care of Muslims, and appealed for peace. He warned Congress leaders of consequences if they continued to support the protests.
Congress leader Siddaramiah, a former chief minister, asked the police to "act sensibly and act responsibly" despite "acting [at] the behest of ruling dispensation".