Violence erupts at India Gate, hooligans hijack protests

Hooligans and some political elements on Sunday hijacked the peaceful protests in New Delhi over the gang-rape of a young girl resulting in violence and attacks against public property and police which retaliated with teargas and water cannons that led to injuries to persons on both sides.

Police said one additional deputy commissioner of police, an additional commissioner of police and a constable were seriously injured in the violence as protests at the Central Vista entered the third day prompting clamping of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in New Delhi district banning the assembly of four or more persons.

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The Vista is the 3-km broad avenue from India Gate that leads to Raisina Hill where the Prime Minister's Office, Rashtrapati Bhawan and the homeministry among other government offices are located.

The constable identified as Subash Tomar was admitted to RML hospital and reported to be in a critical condition, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said.

Around 100 protesters and some media personnel were also injured in the violence, police said.Police also resorted to lathicharge and lobbed around 150 teargas shells to disperse the protesters.Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dharmendra Kumar blamed "hooligans" for the violence during protests against the gang-rape of 23- year-old girl in a moving bus last Sunday night and said unruly elements have "hijacked" peaceful demonstrations.

The Delhi police in its report to the Union home ministry said that some "vested interests" had joined the protesters and were instigating violence. Protesters led by yoga guru Ramdev and former army chief V K Singh clashed with police at Jantar Mantar on Sunday afternoon when they were prevented from marching towards India Gate.

Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia sat on a dharna near Hyderabad House on Ashoka Road, close to India Gate. The youth outfit of the Bharatiya Janata Party also took part in the protests.

Dharmendra Kumar disclosed that a former Chief Justice of India will constitute the Commission of Inquiry which will go into the gang-rape incident, lapses by police and measures to be taken to ensure safety of women in Delhi and other parts of the country.

This was the second successive day that the police resorted to lobbing teargas shells and spraying of water jets besides using force to contain the protest demanding speedy justice and stringent punishment for the accused in last Sunday night's incident.

Doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital said the condition of the victim continues to be critical.

A group of protesters also met Sonia and Rahul Gandhi during which the Congress top leaders assured speedy action while refusing to give a time frame for it.

Earlier, the police imposed prohibitory orders under under Section 144 of CrPC in New Delhi district banning the assembly of four or more persons to check the violence.

Some protesters indulged in violence as they stopped East Delhi MP

Sandeep Dikshit at India Gate, heckled him and damaged his car as well as a government jeep ferrying officials and clashed with the police while trying to march towards Raisina Hill, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and key government ministries are located.

Central Delhi faced huge traffic chaos due to a security clampdown on Rajpath even as protesters blocked roads near India Gate.

Early on Sunday morning, around 50-60 protesters, who stayed put at Raisina Hill throughout the night and some others in front of Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence, were evacuated while high drama was witnessed at India Gate when agitators resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders.

Eight Metro stations near India Gate and Raisina Hill were closed as part of police measures to contain the agitation.

The police after clamping prohibitory orders in New Delhi district asked protesters to stage demonstrations either at Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidan.

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