Delhi police defend actions on Ramdev eviction

Lily

B.R
Staff member
New Delhi: Claiming there was a security threat to Baba Ramdev, the Delhi Police Friday told the Supreme Court that the yoga guru was evicted from the Ramlila Ground when he started protesting after he was asked to leave.

Delhi Police chief B.K. Gupta said in an affidavit that Ramdev was asked to move out as prohibitory orders had been imposed in the area on the night of June 4 to 5 but instead he began protesting.

Police Commissioner Gupta filed a personal affidavit after being asked to do so by the apex court detailing the circumstances under which Delhi Police used force and fired tear gas to evict Ramdev and his supporters from Ramlila Ground.

Tear gas

Delhi Police said it fired eight tear gas shells after its efforts to get the ground vacated were met with resistance from Ramdev's supporters. A police officer denied a charge of using batons on Ramdev's supporters.

He said they were forced to retaliate when Ramdev's supporters started throwing stones and flower pots at them when they tried to reach the raised dais where the yoga guru was sitting.

Beat the guru's followers with sticks

Delhi Police will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court explaining its position. He said they intend to deny that police beat the followers of Ramdev with sticks.

He also said that permission to use Ramlila Ground was given for a yoga camp, a point that is also mentioned in B.K. Gupta's affidavit.

It says that though the Ramilia Ground was booked for yoga exercises, it turned into a political assembly. It further said that Ramdev was told that Section 144 — which prohibits the assembly of five or more people — had been imposed at Ramlila Ground area and he had to move out.

But Ramdev, instead of leaving the ground, started agitating. Nearly 100 people were injured in the crackdown.
 
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