Bengaluru: The protests by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists in front of the office of Amnesty International India in Indiranagar turned violent with the police resorting to lathi charge after they found the activists holding petrol bottles and trying to enter the NGO’s office. While five policemen were injured, six agitators including women were hurt.
The ABVP activists, who have been protesting demanding immediate arrest of the representatives of the Amnesty International India, that organised the controversial event last Saturday where anti-national slogans were allegedly shouted, gathered at large numbers in front of the NGO’s office at 13th Main Road in Indiranagara 1st Stage around 11.30 am on Friday. There were more than 100 activists demanding the arrest of the accused and banning of the NGO.
Despite repeated requests by the police to disperse, the activists sat in front of the office and shouted slogans. Around 12 noon, the agitators tried to enter the NGO’s building in search of its employees, but the police stopped them. Later, the agitators allegedly wanted to disperse the police personnel guarding the gate and enter inside, by burning an effigy near the gate. Though the police requested the protesters to take the effigy to the road, they were in no mood to listen.
Police try to disperse ABVP members who were protesting in front of Amnesty International India’s office in Bengaluru. (Photo: DC)
Meanwhile, the police found the protesters carrying petrol bottles in their hand, which is said to be brought to use once they gained entry into the office. At this juncture, the policemen resorted to lathi charge and dispersed the mob. Some of the agitators fought back with the police and shouted slogans against them. But the police continued the lathi charge till the mob dispersed.
In the melee, Veena, an activist collided with a barricade and fell unconscious while another male activist got hit and started bleeding. Despite being hurt, he continued the protest. The police bundled both of them into a police vehicle and rushed them to a hospital.
The other injured activists were identified as Manjunath Reddy, Somashekar, Ashwath and Pruthvi. Even they were taken to hospitals in police vehicles. The police detained 22 agitators and were later released them on bail. A case was registered in Indiranagar police station for unlawful assembly, trying to damage property by using explosives and other charges.
However, the ABVP activists alleged that they the employees of the NGO were video graphing the protest and when they complained to the police about it, they did nothing and attacked the agitators for no reason. ABVP National Secretary, Vinay Bidare, who led the protests, said, “This is the second time the police are behaving inhumanly with us. For no reason, they have lathi charged us, who were protesting peacefully. Even on Tuesday, the police assaulted us for protesting. This shows attempts are being made to shield the organisers. We won’t step back from the protests fearing assault by policemen, but we will intensify it in the coming days.”
Police probing August 13 incident: Dr G Parameshwar
Meanwhile, Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, said that the JC Nagar police was investigating the case and have sent the footage provided by ABVP activists for analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory. At an event in the city on Friday, he said, “The police are going ahead as per law and they will arrest the persons involved when they gather evidence.” Referring to Tumakuru incident, he said, “It was a small incident where one person made some comment. The police are probing that case as well.”
