The women protesting against the new citizenship matrix at Lucknow’s Ghanta Ghar suspended their 66-day-old agitation on Monday citing the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 100 of them left their dupattas behind at the dharna site, pledging to be back after the virus threat had blown over.

“We realised that the police were needed elsewhere to enforce the lockdown — at last 100 of them were deployed at Ghanta Ghar. Our decision is in the interest of our nation,” Sabiha Fatima, a protester, said.

She said the decision would be reviewed on April 1.

Lucknow police commissioner Sujeet Pandey confirmed that the women had sent him a letter saying they were suspending the dharna for now. He thanked them for the “wise decision”.

The number of protesters had dwindled at the site, with those aged above 55 or below 15 sent home. Those present wore masks and washed their hands regularly, Fatima said.

The dharnas at the Mansoor Ali Park in Allahabad, Shah Jamal Idgah in Aligarh and the Idgah ground in Moradabad continued on Monday.