20 arrested as Bhopal gas victioms protest before PMO

New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) A group of Bhopal gas victims today staged a silent protest before the Prime Minister's Office at South Block here.

Police took a total of 20 activists, including four women, into custody.

A total of 34 activists, including 12 children and 22 women, staged a "die-in" in front of the Prime Minister's Office. The activists took the security staff by surprise, and staged a silent protest where women and children lay along the entrance to Gate 5 that leads to the PMO, with shrouds covering their bodies.

They are currently being detained at the Parliament Street Police station, police said.

The protestors demanded that the government commit to empowering the Commission on Bhopal for long term rehabilitation of the Bhopal victims and take appropriate legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.

The three organisations of Bhopal survivors leading the 111 "day-long" campaign including today's die-in announced the launch of a global hunger strike from tomorrow.

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