Anna gets police go-ahead for fast

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his followers got a go-ahead on Tuesday to sit on a hunger strike at Rajghat in protest against the eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan.

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his followers got a go-ahead on Tuesday to sit on a hunger strike at Rajghat in protest against the eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan.

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First they got a 'no' from the Delhi police to pursue their course of protest.

The Delhi police have given Hazare and his supporters permission to fast between 10am and 6pm on Wednesday on condition that the number of persons joining him should not exceed the "capacity of the venue" which is estimated to be a little more than 1,000.

"We have given them permission and made adequate security arrangements for the same," said Dharmendra Kumar, special commissioner of police (law and order).

After Baba Ramdev and his supporters had to be evicted on Saturday night to ensure "public peace", the police have decided on "normal deployment" this time. Usual arrangements will be made, which means around 70-80 policemen will be deployed.

Meanwhile, the police have seized the surveillance cameras installed at the yoga guru's anti-corruption fast venue at the Ramlila Maidan to investigate a case of rioting registered at the Kamla Market police station.

"The organising committee installed the CCTVs in co-ordination with the police as a safety measure. As part of probe, we have seized them," said Rajan Bhagat, additional deputy commissioner and Delhi police spokesperson.