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 which retaliated with teargas and water cannons that led to injuries to persons on both sides.Police said one additional DCP, an ACP 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, The Vista is the 3-km broad avenue from India Gate that leads to Raisina hill where the PMO, Rastrapati Bhawan and Home Ministry among other 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 gangrape of 23- year-old girl in a moving bus last Sunday night and said unruly elements have “hijacked” peaceful demonstrations.Delhi Police in its report to 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, this 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 BJP 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 gangrape incident, lapses by police and measures to be taken to ensure safety of women in Delhi and other parts of the country.The girl was again put on ventilator after doctors at Safdarjung hospital subjected her to various tests as her condition continued to be critical.IANS adds: Thousands massed at India Gate on Sunday to denounce the brutal gang-rape of a young woman, with clashes between police and protesters leaving many injured. Outnumbered police and paramilitary personnel fired umpteen tear gas shells and repeatedly used batons to break up emotionally charged crowds screaming “We want justice!” and hurling stones and water bottles.By early evening, three huge bonfires had been lit near India Gate, a World War I monument whose lawns have been besieged by thousands since a 23-year-old was raped in a moving bus, leaving her battling for life.The more frenzied ones uprooted wooden barricades erected for the Jan 26 Republic Day crowd control and set them on fire.Witnesses said several people, including security personnel, were injured.But even as a section of the vast crowd indulged in violence, breaking police barricades and overturning a handful of vehicles, the mass of young men and women remained peaceful.Many of them held hand-written posters and waved Indian flags. Some gave fiery speeches. Unlike Saturday's equally massive protests, many middle-aged also poured in Sunday, urging the government to amend laws so that rapists get heavier punishment.The violence subsided after some 90 minutes of running battles during which crowds charged at security forces around India Gate and retreated in the face of tear gas and batons. “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.The younger protesters were more militant and angry.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.”Delhi University student Hemant said the protests would continue “until we are assured that girls are safe in Delhi”.The foggy and chilly Sunday began on a quiet note at the protest venue, with only a small group who had spent the night present. By early morning, crowds began to pour in, shouting slogans.The initials slogans, mainly condemning the Dec 16 rape, later turned anti-police.Having barricaded all the roads leading to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and government offices close by, security forces sprayed water and fired tear gas at the crowds demanding death to the rapists.Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people were clamped in parts of the city centre in a bid to prevent the demonstrators from marching to the presidential palace or Prime Minister's Office.The continuing protests over the rape—the victim is in critical condition at the Safdarjung Hospital—found their echo in the political circles.Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday promised a group of young people that speedy action would be taken against the accused and they would also be charged with attempt to murder.This was her second meeting with some of the protesters. A huge crowd had camped out outside her 10 Janpath residence Saturday night. To the surprise of many, she came out past midnight, sat with them and spoke for some 20 minutes.The day'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.Earlier, police evicted protesters from near India Gate but succeeded only partially.Many young men and women were grabbed and forcibly led away towards parked buses. But many slipped through.Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit appealed for calm but said she did not approve of police action against the young.Authorities shut eight Delhi Metro stations but that seemed to have no impact on the crowds.IANS adds: Mass protests for the third straight day Sunday against the gang-rape of a young woman turned violent here, leaving dozens injured and turning the India Gate area into a virtual war zone.Police and paramilitary personnel liberally used batons and tear gas to chase away thousands after the emotionally charged protests during the day descended into chaos by evening.Mobs uprooted wooden poles erected for the Jan 26 Republic Day event and set them on fire, upturned vehicles and hurled stones and water bottles on policemen in response to tear gas and baton attacks.Ambulances with wailing sirens took away the injured to hospitals.By night, roads in the area were littered with sandals, shoes, books, hand-held banners, bags and water bottles, left behind by those who fled the protest site in panic.Special Commissioner of Police Dharmendra Kumar urged all protesters to head home as security forces cleared street after street once darkness set in.“The movement has been taken over by hooligans,” he said. “We want people to go home so that we can isolate the hooligans.”Although a large number dispersed from the area, which includes the stately Hyderabad House which Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit Monday, a few hundred remained rooted near India Gate, a World War I monument flanked by lush green lawns.Several protesters—the number estimated at 50 -- were injured in the earlier police action. A police constable was reportedly seriously injured in stoning.The political class appeared shaken by the mass and largely spontaneous protests. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj urged the government to call a meeting of all political parties to discuss the Dec 16 rape.Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a group of men and women—her second meeting with protesters—that the rapists would be tried quickly and also charged with attempt to murder.Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit appealed for calm.Earlier in the day, thousands of young men and women engulfed the India Gate area shouting “We want justice!” and demanding death to the five men and a boy who raped the 23-year-old in a moving bus Dec 16 night.A week later, the woman remains in critical condition.Bouts of violence took place during the day too, but the mass of demonstrators remained peaceful—but angry. Many waved Indian flags, and some gave fiery speeches. Unlike Saturday's equally massive protests, many middle-aged also poured in Sunday, urging the government to amend laws so that rapists get heavier punishment.“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.