Delhi gangrape: violence at India Gate as hooligans hijack protests
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Hooligans and some political elements today hijacked the peaceful protests in the Capital over the gang-rape of a young girl resulting in violence and attacks against public property and police
“We hope these protests wake up the government,” said Rakesh Kumar, a businessman in south Delhi who was at the site with his wife and two young daughters.
Pallavi, a 25-year-old working for a multinational, told IANS: “The government is sleeping... The law against rape must be stronger and should be implemented properly.”
To prevent a repeat of Saturday's events when people tried to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan, police barricaded all the roads leading to the place and government offices close by including the Prime Minister's Office.
Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people were clamped.
Sunday's protests also drew political activists. But most appeared to be people with no particular affiliation.
Amid all this, yoga guru Ramdev reached the Jantar Mantar protest site also in the city centre standing atop a bus. Later, many of his supporters made their way to India Gate shouting slogans.
He demanded death sentence for the Dec 16 rapists.
Also Sunday, a large crowd gathered outside the Safdarjung Hospital in solidarity with the rape victim. A group of children held placards seeking capital punishment for the rapists.