NBA leader Medha Patkar shifted to AIIMS

New Delhi, Apr 5: In a midnight drama, Narmada Bachao Andolan(NBA) activist Medha Patkar and three other activists were today picked up by the police from the site they were fasting for the last eight days.

Ms Patkar has been taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said Additional DCP (New Delhi) Manish Agrawal.

He said, ''our first priority is that Ms Medha Patkar along with others should get treatment.'' On being asked, whether they would be arrested or detained, he said it was premature to say anything but legal action would definitely be taken.

Meanwhile, NBA activists said that 25 of their colleagues have been arrested by the police. The protest and the fast would continue despite all this, he added.

A heavy police contingent reached the Jantar Mantar around 2300 hrs and told the activists to disperse immediately. When they protested, the police roughed them up, an activist said. Amidst midnight developments, Medha Patkar, who was on her 8th day of fast, to protest the government's move to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam NBA project, was then taken forcibly to AIIMS, even as her followers clashed with the police.

Three other activists, who are also on fast were also arrested.

Despite the police action, the followers of Narmada activist continued their protest in a midnight drama.

UNI