Hyderabad, Dec 19 (IANS): The Hyderabad police detained dozens of leaders and activists of the Left parties heading to participate in a rally here on Thursday to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The police forces stopped the protestors proceeding towards Exhibition Grounds in the heart of the city.

The Left parties and various Muslim organisations have called for a rally from the Exhibition Grounds to State Legislative Assembly building. Police, however, denied permission for the same.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and former Member of Parliament Aziz Pasha was among the leaders arrested by the police when they were heading towards the venue of the rally.

"This is unjust. Is there a democracy or a police raj," said Aziz Pasha, protesting the arrest. He said the issue related to the Constitution and the Left parties would not keep quiet.

Police personnel were seen preventing burka-clad women from heading towards the venue. They were rounded up and carried away in a waiting police vehicle.

The rally was originally planned from the historic Charminar to Exhibition Grounds, but South Zone police denied permission for the same. The organisers had planned a huge gathering at the sprawling grounds.

Though the Left parties and others changed the plan, the police refused to give permission even for a truncated rally.

The police said there was no permission for rallies or any protest programme. It appealed to people not to believe the messages being circulated on the social media.