India protests: Politician escapes arrest by fleeing over rooftops amid mass demonstrations

A leading opposition politician in India escaped police by fleeing over the rooftops of houses after he was arrested during a protest against the country's new controversial citizenship law.

Chandrashekhar Azad, a prominent activist among the country’s Dalit community - formerly known as the Untouchables - was leading a march from the Jama Masjid, one of Delhi’s most historic mosques.

The march, a demonstration against laws which grant Indian citizenship only to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from neighbouring nations, had been banned by the authorities and Mr Azad was detained by police.

But moments later he managed to escape by running through houses and over rooftops to avoid recapture before disappearing into crowds.

Police in Delhi had shut down nearby metro stations in an effort to prevent Mr Azad from even reaching the mosque protest, but he managed to find a way through after Friday’s morning prayers and spoke to the crowd while holding a copy of India’s constitution, the BBC reported.

India has been gripped by division and widespread demonstrations since the country's parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Act earlier this month.

Opponents of the government say the law is another part of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s plan to relegate Muslim Indians to second-class citizens.

The law amends existing immigration rules to make it possible for people from Afghanistan, Pakistan or Bangladesh to halve the number of years of residence required before they can apply to be naturalised citizens.

However, this exception only applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists or other smaller religious minorities, notably not including Muslims.

Critics argue this contradicts India’s secular constitution. But the government has cracked down harshly on opposition to the citizenship reforms.

Anyone seen publicly attacking the new law is liable to arrest, including an award-winning student who wore a black armband during a prize-giving ceremony.

Other prominent opposition leaders have also been detained ahead of planned demonstrations in Delhi, the capital of India.

The authorities have also shut down mobile phone service in many parts of the country in an effort to quell the rising anger.

So far, three people have died and at least 1,200 more arrested since the protests began. In some cities marches have turned violent, with demonstrators hurling rocks at the police and damaging vehicles.