Violence mars peaceful protest
People take part in a candlelight vigil to pay homage to the gangrape victim at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
Shocked and angry at the death of the 23-year-old woman who was brutally gangraped and assaulted in a moving bus here, a sea of humanity thronged Jantar Mantar in the heart of the national capital on Sunday to peacefully vent their ire at the dismal safety scenario for women in the country.
While the demonstration was mostly peaceful, some youths, allegedly belonging to BJP’s student’s wing ABVP, scuffled with the police after they were not allowed to take out a march. Five persons were detained but were later released and the situation was quickly brought under control.
Later in the evening, six young men were beaten up by a group of policemen for allegedly creating chaos near the entrance of the barricaded venue. Eyewitnesses, however, told this newspaper that the youths were merely sitting and raising slogans when around six policemen started unnecessarily kicking and punching them. The youths were taken to Parliament Street police station but later released. According to the SHO, the police plans to file a FIR for “rioting” against the six youths.
Since morning, hundreds of people from different walks of life started pouring into the protest venue which was choc-a-bloc with protesters by evening. Sloganeering and revolutionary songs seeking justice and protection of women’s rights echoed as people raised their voice in unison against discrimination of all kinds against women. Most people held placards that talked about equality and freedom of women. There were also hoardings saying death penalty and castration were apt punishments for rapists. Some angry protesters burned an effigy of chief minister Sheila Dikshit for alleged lapses in the law and order situation in the city. People lit candles to condole the tragic death of the young paramedical student. Some protesters also demanded a Delhi Bandh on January 3 when the trial in the case is scheduled to start. A large number of policemen and personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed at the venue to prevent any untoward incident. Riot control vehicles, tear gar cannons and two ambulances were also stationed.
A protest march was taken out from Connaught Place to Red Fort. India Gate and Raisina Hill housing the Presidential Estate, which were the epicentre of the anti-gangrape protests last week, were out of bounds for the public as all routes leading to both were shut. Ten Metro stations also remained closed as per a police advisory. While Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Pragati Maidan, Patel Chowk and Barakhamba Road Metro stations were opened after 1 pm, entry and exit at Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Race Course, Jor Bagh and Khan Market stations remained closed throughout the day.
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