Bengaluru, Aug 20 (DHNS): Around 20 students and ABVP workers were injured, some of them seriously, when the police resorted to lathi charge to disperse a group of protesters which attempted to picket the Amnesty International India (AII) office in Indiranagar 1st stage on Friday.
The ABVP-led protesters were demanding the arrest of those who had raised anti-India slogans at an event organised by AII?here on August 13. Six police personnel were also injured as they were manhandled by the protesters.
The injured students were rushed to CMH Hospital, C V Raman General hospital and other hospitals in Indiranagar. The doctors at CHM Hospital said that of the five students admitted there, one had sustained a gash on his head and was being treated. The others are out of danger, hospital sources said.
Around 11 am, around 150 students gathered near the AII office and demanded the immediate arrest of those who had raised anti-national slogans. They removed the barricades placed by the police and made their way near the office gate.
As they were preparing to burn an effigy of AII, the police requested them not to create trouble and asked them to disperse. As an argument broke out between the protesters and the police, some of the ABVP activists tried to climb the AII office gate to enter its premises.
To disperse them, the police resorted to lathi charge. While some students were injured after being hit by lathis, a few others suffered injuries as they tripped while running for cover.
“The protestors were carrying two bottles of petrol to burn the effigy. We asked them not to do that as it is a residential area. As they did not pay heed to our advice, we used force to disperse them. They could have caused huge damage if we had not acted,” said a senior police officer.
ABVP’s Bengaluru unit organising secretary Jaya Prakash said: “We were told by the police that the AII?office was closed. But we found a few persons on the top floor videographing the protest. Hence, we attempted to barge in.”
ABVP member Veena, who was injured, told DH: “Male police personnel attempted to control women protesters though women police were at the spot. ABVP?members Gavisiddaiah, Range Gowda and Manjunath Reddy sustained severe gashes on their heads and are undergoing treatment.”
The police detained ABVP workers who came to the hospital to enquire about the injured.?The ABVP will intensify the agitation till those who raised slogans against the Indian Army are arrested, she said.
The police detained 22 protesters and released them later. A case has been registered against the protesters at the Indiranagar police station. Security has been heightened at the AII?office, the police said.
Parameshwar sees BJP's hand
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Aug 20: State home minister, Dr G Parameshwar, has expressed the view that continuing protests by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against raising of anti-national slogans and slogans deriding the army at a programme organized by Amnesty International in the city were backed by the designs of BJP.
Speaking to media persons here on Friday August 19, he pointed out that first information report has already been lodged against Amnesty International and that investigation has been undertaken. He dubbed the protests by ABVP as unwarranted.
"ABVP happens to be a wing of BJP. ABVP is not justified in getting involved with agitation over the issue. We will take action based on the report that will be submitted to the government after the conclusion of the inquiry," he clarified.