50 supporters of Hazare detained at fast venue

New Delhi, Aug 16: At least 50 supporters of Anna Hazare were detained on Monday late night by Delhi police at Jai Prakash Narain Park, the venue of the anti-graft crusader's planned fast from on Tuesday, Aug 16 for defying prohibitory orders clamped in the area.

The supporters of the Gandhian were taken in a police bus to a nearby police station, police said. Hazare has been denied permission by Delhi police to hold his fast at JPN park.

They had gathered ahead of Hazare's fast for a strong Lokpal bill to express solidarity with him.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in some areas of Daryaganj and IP police stations in Central Delhi, which include Jai Prakash Narain Park and Shaheed Park, were clamped this evening. The section prohibits the assembly of five or more people in one place.

The areas where prohibitory orders have been imposed include Shantivan to Rajghat, Rajghat to Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg to JLN Marg, Delhi Gate to Tilak Marg on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg.

The orders came following police denying permission to Hazare to hold the protest at the park after organisers refused to give an undertaking restricting the number of protest days to three and protestors to 5,000.

A large contingent of police, including women personnel, have been deployed around JPN Park to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. Delhi Police meanwhile sought the services of two magistrates from the city government.

Sources said Delhi Police have requested Principal Secretary (Home) of the city government to provide them with two magistrates whose services might be required to handle the law and order situation during the proposed protest.

Top officials also reviewed the situation at Police Headquarters.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta and other senior officials at the Police Headquarters here to take stock of the measures taken by the force to tackle any untoward situation.

PTI