Women encircled Baba to shield him
Baba Ramdev’s ongoing fast against corruption at the Ramlila Maidan was broken up abruptly late Saturday night. The dramatic police action unveiled after government and yoga guru accused each other of betrayal on mutual assurances and refused to relent from their positions.
Battalions of Delhi police and Rapid Action Force, about 5,000 personnel in complete riot gear, started to assemble at Ramlila Maidan at around 11.30 in preparation for the eventual crackdown. The police vehicles, including buses, anti-riot vehicles and water cannons were also brought in and were encircling the Ramlila Maidan. Additional forces entered the protest site at about 1 am and began asking protesting people, who were sleeping at the venue, to disperse immediately.
Baba Ramdev, who was sleeping on the stage was woken up in the melee. Seeing additional police forces entering the pandal, several volunteers created a cordon around Baba on the stage itself. The police were seen zeroing in towards the stage.
Meanwhile, Ramdev jumped off the stage and was carried on the back of his supporters, hundreds of whom had encircled the Baba, who was speaking to his supporters constantly through a microphone. A group of women devotees were also seen encircling Baba in an effort to prevent his arrest.
At the periphery of this group minor scuffles broke out between the protesters and the security personnel. Several groups of protesters were seen clashing with the police, who retaliated with lathicharge. While another group threw potted plants and resorted to stone-throwing on policemen, the police retaliated with lathicharge.
Being unable to effectively take control of the deteriorating situation at the protest site, the police cut off power supply to the ground at around 2 am engulfing the entire area in darkness. During this complete blackout, several policemen were seen breaking up and dismantling the speaker and sound system through which the Baba was continually instructing his followers that “they should maintain peace and not resort to violence.” With people in the crowd turning violent the police resorted to tear gas shells.
Several of these shells were burst in the crowd and one of these is believed to have started a minor fire on the stage.
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