Crack down hard on rowdy elements at Ramlila grounds, home ministry tells Delhi police

The Delhi police has been asked to crack down on hooligans who indulged in violence during the anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare even as two persons were arrested for beating policemen on duty in the wee hours on Friday.

Taking strong exception to the incident that took place at 3 am when some drunk people beat up some policemen, the Union home ministry asked Delhi police to deal with such elements with an iron hand.

The traffic police has also been asked to ensure discipline on the roads as there were complaints of rowdyism with bikers performing stunts and also troubling other vehicle owners.

A senior ministry official said that the police cannot turn a blind eye to street harassment and hooliganism in the garb of nationalism.

Government sources said two persons were arrested and hunt was launched on to nab others as such incidents were totally unacceptable.

High drama ensued well past after midnight at the VIP gate of Ramlila maidan here where Hazare is sitting on a protest fast, as a group of people clashed with policemen and dismantled barricades.

A group of people got into a tiff with some policemen deployed at the rear gate of the maidan around 3 am. The youth heckled the policemen and hit them with sticks when they tried to stop their group from opening the iron gate, being used as a VIP gate.

The group brought down the barricades and shouted slogans as policemen tried to persuade them to go away.