Barricades up as protests continue

The government put up more barricades around central Delhi even as anti-rape protesters remained unrelenting on Monday. HT reports. Lockdown central

The government put up more barricades around central Delhi even as anti-rape protesters remained unrelenting on Monday.

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For the third consecutive day, agitationists shouted slogans outside the Delhi Police headquarters, near ITO. Some of them tried to climb the barricades but were prevented by the heavy force deployed on the headquarters' gates. Traffic remained disrupted on ITO due to the agitation.

Members of the CPM-backed All India Democratic Women's Association, Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sangathan, National Federation for Indian Women, All India Student's Association, All India Progressive Women's Association and the SFI protested at Jantar Mantar.

"We are going to meet the Union home minister and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to demand the removal of the errant police officers who did not register complaint filed by the parents of this girl," activist Kavita Krishnan said at Jantar Mantar.

Posters that read "PM, HM, CM and LG How Much Time You Want For Safety of Women" and "Disband colonial police force" along with anti-police and anti-violence slogans stood out.

"I have been living in Delhi for over 30 years. Women are not safe in this city. It's a shame that this is the state of the capital of the country," said Deepti Bharati, a protester.

"We want justice. The rapists should be hanged. They are now targeting kids as well," said Sapna Sharma, another protester.

After protesting for 20-odd minutes at Jantar Mantar, the mob broke the barricades and ran towards Parliament. However, a heavy posse of police stalled them in front of Parliament Street police station.

They were joined by a teachers' forum from Uttar Pradesh, KGBV Association, which was already camped at Jantar Mantar protesting against UP government. However, as the women's groups started moving towards Parliament, they followed with them. The anti-rape protesters tried to break the barricades and move forward for 15-odd minutes before giving up. However, these teachers continued for another hour of scuffling with the armoured police contingent.

When asked the reason behind their hurling slogans at Delhi Police, one of their leaders said, "Delhi police is misbehaving with us. They are not letting us go forward."

The protests at Jantar Mantar and ITO spelled huge trouble for office-goers headed for central Delhi.