New Delhi:
Delhi Police on Monday detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers from protest venue near Rail Bhavan. AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi has been allegedly beaten up by Delhi Police and taken to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital.
Criticising Delhi police, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Akhilesh Tripathi, an MLA, brutally beaten by police. Why?"
Another AAP leader, Satyendra Jain also mentioned, "We will continue with our protest. They said you are not allowed inside. They are allowing media persons and officers but not me. Do they have problem with me just because I am a minister?"
However, Delhi police refuted allegations made against them. "We haven't detained or arrested anyone. We didn't hit anyone, reports are false," said Mukesh Meena (Joint CP) on AAP dharna.
Around 3,000 security personnel including from ITBP and Rapid Action Force were deployed around the protest venue.
Kejriwal and his ministers began the dharna demanding action against police officials who refused to carry out a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution racket in South Delhi last week.
Defying prohibitory orders clamped in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues had attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest but were stopped stopped near the Rail Bhavan by police.
Kejriwal said he has come prepared to stage dharna for at least 10 days and would continue the agitation further if need be.
Security has also been beefed up at PM Manmohan Singh's residence. Additional forces have also been deployed at 7 RCR ahead of Cabinet meeting which was scheduled to begin at 5:30pm.
Fearing protests from AAP at 7rcr pm, house camera crew has been turned down.
On the directions of the Delhi Police, four Metro stations – Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course were closed from 9 AM onwards today.
Two of the Metro stations – Patel Chowk and Race Course, were opened at 2.14 PM. The entry and exit to the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan Metro stations remain closed as directed by the Delhi Police.
During the closure, movement of the interchange passengers is being allowed at the Central Secretariat Metro station and regulated exit of employees with offices in the vicinity was facilitated after the verification of the identity cards at Central Secretariat only in the morning.
