Delhi gang-rape: Peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar marred by violence

The peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding speedy punishment for the rapists of the 23-year-old girl, was marred by violence on Sunday when a group allegedly belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed with the police on being denied permission to take out a march.

Five people, including some members of the ABVP, were detained following the incident, but were released later and the situation was quickly brought under control.

The incident occurred even as a group of protesters sat on a one-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the national capital, while others shouted slogans holding placards in their hands.

A group of protesters also painted slogans and graphics on sheets of paper spread on the road.

The hitherto peaceful protest turned violent at around 1 pm when a group among the protesters carrying flags and banners of ABVP tried to take out a march from Jantar Mantar to Connaught Place, but the police prevented them from moving ahead, following which the clash erupted.

While one group went ahead with the peaceful protest, another group tried to break the iron barricades and the police called in more reinforcement.

Protesters managed to break some of the barricades, but the police immediately contained them.

At Jantar Mantar, young and old, men and women gathered at the epicentre of the protest from morning in an outpouring of grief and anger at the rape and death of the 23-year-old paramedical student.

India Gate and Raisina Hill, where violent protests had taken place last week, remained out of bounds for public on Sunday as hundreds of policemen in riot gear guarded the area and kept a hawk's vigil.

“The entire central vista including Rajpath, Vijay Chowk and all roads leading to India Gate will be closed for general traffic. Kamal Attaturk Marg has also been closed. All travellers are advised to avoid these roads,” the police said.

Five out of the 10 metro stations in central Delhi, that were closed down for an indefinite period in the wake of the death of the gang-rape victim, were opened on Sunday afternoon.

The stations which opened are Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Rajiv Chowk and Patel Chowk.