New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The Delhi Police resorted to mild lathi-charge and fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of Dalits, protesting against demolition of Saint Ravidas temple in south Delhi’s Tughlaqabad area, here on Wednesday.
“The police fired tear gas shells and used mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd. We have detained a few persons,” said a senior officer. The protesters set ablaze couple of two-wheelers, attacked a police vehicle, injuring policemen, during the protest.
Bhim Army claimed that police fired at the protesters and its chief Chandrashekhar Azad had been detained.
The temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority on August 10 on the orders of the Supreme Court.
The protesters from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP and other states were demanding rebuilding of the temple by the Central government or handing over of the plot to the community and rebuild the temple.
— IANS
adv/pcj