New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped outside Meerut when they were on their way to meet families of those killed in violence that broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Uttar Pradesh last week. The brother-sister duo left for Meerut this morning to meet some of the family members of the deceased protesters, but they were stopped by Meerut Police outside the city. The police cited the law and order situation in the state in the wake of ongoing protests against the Citizenship law. The cops reportedly told them that they cannot enter the city as prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in place. Both the leaders are now returning to Delhi.

In the violent protests which erupted in Meerut last week, two persons were killed and a police post was set on fire. In a bid to nab those who led the violence in the city during a protest against the newly-enacted citizenship law, Uttar Pradesh police on Monday issued posters with pictures of the rioters. The posters of "wanted rioters" also said that people who provide information that will lead to their arrests will be rewarded.

Watch | Priyanka, Rahul barred from entering Meerut to meet grieving families of CAA protesters



Priyanka Gandhi had on Sunday met the families of some of the protesters who died in Bijnor. Over 16 people are reported to have died in Uttar Pradesh alone. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that "the whole nation recognised the Prime Minister by his clothes as he wears Rs 2 crore suit", in an apparent reference to Modi who had said that those agitating against the CAA were recognisable by their clothes.

Meanwhile, protests have erupted in several parts of the country, including Delhi and West Bengal, over the newly-enacted citizenship law, which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

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(with inputs from agencies)