India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has appealed for calm as violent protests against a new law on illegal migrants entered a fifth day.
There are large protests in the capital Delhi as well as in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
On Sunday, police used tear gas and detained protesters, as buses were torched and roads blocked.
The new law entitles citizenship to some non-Muslim migrants from three Muslim-majority countries.
But people are divided on why they have taken to the streets.
Some critics say the law is anti-Muslim, while others – especially in border regions – fear large-scale migration.
On Monday, as protests resumed in Delhi and several other cities, Mr Modi took to Twitter to reassure protesters.
“I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that Citizenship Amendment Act does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. 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.”
Authorities have tried to curb the protests by shutting down internet services, so it is unclear how many people in affected areas have seen his tweets.
The protests – which have left six people dead – began in the north-eastern state of Assam on Thursday, before spreading to other parts of northern and eastern India.
Students at universities across the country resumed demonstrations on Monday.
In Kolkata, tens of thousands of people have joined a demonstration led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ruling Trinamool Congress party.
Further demonstrations are expected in a number of other cities.
On Monday, Delhi police spokesman MS Randhawa said officers “exercised maximum restraint” in response to allegations of excessive force used on students.
Several lawyers asked the Supreme Court to intervene, pointing out that officers had assaulted students in bathrooms, but the chief justice said that the court would not take any action until students ceased their protests.
The UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings for people visiting India’s north-east, telling their citizens to “exercise caution” if travelling to the region.
