New Delhi:
Only various shades of khaki can be seen at India Gate today, the site of hostile demonstrations and police action over the weekend. The Delhi Police, taking no chances, has closed all roads leading into the hexagon around the national capital's central monument and even morning walkers were not allowed into the area today.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 that were imposed yesterday will remain. The police have issued an elaborate traffic advisory saying all the eight arterial roads that lead into India Gate and crossroads, including Rajpath, Rafi Marg, Janpath and Man Singh road will remain closed for general traffic. (Read: Roads to avoid in Delhi)
All the nine Metro stations in the area are also closed until further orders to ensure crowds of people do not attempt to reach India Gate. This includes the Rajiv Chowk metro station in the heart of Connaught Place. About 5 lakh people use the Delhi Metro each morning on a working day and they have been caused much inconvenience. (Read: 9 Metro stations to be closed today)
On Sunday, a spontaneous movement led largely by students, and one that saw women and children gathering early each day to mark their protest against the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus last week, devolved into riots because of unrestrained excessive measures by the police, an infiltration by miscreants and an unresponsive government that has failed to interact with protesters except through press conferences.
Political and even fringe outfits joined the protests at India Gate yesterday, testing the police's security cordons repeatedly. A car was over-turned, barricades were set on fire and stones were thrown at cops. Policemen were seen thrashing a girl; cops used tear gas and water cannons relentlessly to push back crowds.
Three cops and several protesters were injured and taken to hospital. A Delhi Police constable, Subhash Tomar, is in critical condition.
A young woman at the protest site alleged that miscreants who had infiltrated the protests, harassed women. "We tried stopping them. They were using abusive language. When we asked them to back off, they refused. We also requested them not to throw water bottles at the police. There are many of them who are drunk and are eve-teasing. They have come here just to have some fun," she said.
At night, the chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, said she will request the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to ensure that fast-track courts start functioning immediately to handle rape cases and that the trial in last week's heinous attack is completed within an agreed-upon timeline.
"VIP security is not an excuse to not protect the common man," she said, addressing the frequent complaint that Delhi's police force is so preoccupied with protecting politicians that the city is left to fend for itself. When asked if Delhi's top cop Neeraj Kumar should be removed, she said, "The senior-most police official must be held accountable."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul this morning invited a group of protesters into her home and told them that they would ensure action is taken In the case of the six men who have been arrested for last week's gang-rape. The protesters said later they were disappointed that the leaders did not commit to any deadlines.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 that were imposed yesterday will remain. The police have issued an elaborate traffic advisory saying all the eight arterial roads that lead into India Gate and crossroads, including Rajpath, Rafi Marg, Janpath and Man Singh road will remain closed for general traffic. (Read: Roads to avoid in Delhi)
All the nine Metro stations in the area are also closed until further orders to ensure crowds of people do not attempt to reach India Gate. This includes the Rajiv Chowk metro station in the heart of Connaught Place. About 5 lakh people use the Delhi Metro each morning on a working day and they have been caused much inconvenience. (Read: 9 Metro stations to be closed today)
On Sunday, a spontaneous movement led largely by students, and one that saw women and children gathering early each day to mark their protest against the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus last week, devolved into riots because of unrestrained excessive measures by the police, an infiltration by miscreants and an unresponsive government that has failed to interact with protesters except through press conferences.
Political and even fringe outfits joined the protests at India Gate yesterday, testing the police's security cordons repeatedly. A car was over-turned, barricades were set on fire and stones were thrown at cops. Policemen were seen thrashing a girl; cops used tear gas and water cannons relentlessly to push back crowds.
Three cops and several protesters were injured and taken to hospital. A Delhi Police constable, Subhash Tomar, is in critical condition.
A young woman at the protest site alleged that miscreants who had infiltrated the protests, harassed women. "We tried stopping them. They were using abusive language. When we asked them to back off, they refused. We also requested them not to throw water bottles at the police. There are many of them who are drunk and are eve-teasing. They have come here just to have some fun," she said.
At night, the chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, said she will request the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to ensure that fast-track courts start functioning immediately to handle rape cases and that the trial in last week's heinous attack is completed within an agreed-upon timeline.
"VIP security is not an excuse to not protect the common man," she said, addressing the frequent complaint that Delhi's police force is so preoccupied with protecting politicians that the city is left to fend for itself. When asked if Delhi's top cop Neeraj Kumar should be removed, she said, "The senior-most police official must be held accountable."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul this morning invited a group of protesters into her home and told them that they would ensure action is taken In the case of the six men who have been arrested for last week's gang-rape. The protesters said later they were disappointed that the leaders did not commit to any deadlines.
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