AAP supporters hold protest demanding release of four arrested cadres

More than 100 supporters gathered outside the district headquarters on Monday and held peaceful protest wearing black ribbons on their arms.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on Monday staged a peaceful protest outside the district headquarters in Ghaziabad and also handed over a memorandum to the district magistrate for release of four party members arrested on charges of rioting and allegedly burning an effigy of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Ghaziabad , India - Aug 07 : Aam Aadmi Party supporters staged a peaceful protest to demand release of four of their supporters who were arrested by police last week in Ghaziabad, India, on Monday, Aug 07, 2016. (Photo by Sakib Ali /Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

More than 100 supporters gathered outside the district headquarters on Monday and held peaceful protest wearing black ribbons on their arms. There was police arrangement at the venue as the previous protest, on August 3, when the effigy was burned, was done without permission.

“We gave our memorandum to the district magistrate and asked for the release of four of our party workers who were arrested. We demand that the case be scrapped. We did burn the effigy of the UP CM. We have held several protest here but never heard that any permission was required for such protests,” said Sachin Sharma, AAP district convener.

The protesters also said that there had been a rise in crime and incidents of rape. On August 3, the AAP was protesting over the recent Bulandshahr robbery and gangrape incident.

Ghaziabad DM Nidhi Kesarwani said the AAP members did not have permission for their protest on August 3.

Following the effigy burning, the DM had recommended action in the issue. Following her communication to Ghaziabad SSP KS Emmanuel, an inquiry was conducted and five police personnel were suspended last week.

Later, an FIR was also lodged against several AAP workers and four of them were arrested.