Protests erupt across India over citizenship law

Protests over India's controversial citizenship law have erupted across several parts of the country.

Protests broke out mostly around university campuses in major cities such as Lucknow, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and the capital New Delhi.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the New Delhi police headquarters to protest against alleged police brutality after more than 100 students of Jamia Millia Islamia University were detained following violent clashes.

Some Bollywood celebrities like actress Konkona Sen Sharma, and directors Mahesh Bhatt and Anubhav Sinha, also criticized the police action on Twitter and called on others to speak up.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to appeal for calm.

"No Indian has anything to worry regarding this act. This act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India," he wrote.

"This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood."