M A I N   N E W S

Anger unabated against Sajjan acquittal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 2
A large number of riot victims today protested near the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today against the court verdict acquitting senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, one of the suspects in the 1984 riots case.

The riot victims protested under the banner of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) that is ruled by the SAD (Badal).

The riot victims, SAD activists and DSGMC members gathered at Jantar Mantar where the police had erected barricades. Led by DSGMC president Manjit Singh (GK), the protesters raised slogans against the UPA government, Delhi Police and Sajjan Kumar. They broke the barricades and rushed towards the residence of Sania Gandhi, 10 Janpath, but they were prevented by a strong police force.

While the victims were chanting slogans, a woman protester, resident of Tilak Vihar, tried to commit suicide. But she was prevented by the other victims and the police.

Later, the police detained some leaders and took them to the Tughlak Road police station. Some of the victims insisted they would squat on the road until they were given justice.

“Over a thousand protesters marched towards Sonia Gandhi's residence, breaking two barricades. But they were blocked by the policemen. Similar scenes were witnessed at 24 Akbar Road (the Congress office),” said a senior police officer.

Several roads in central Delhi had been blocked to prevent angry protesters from reaching the Congress office and the residence of Sonia Gandhi. Among the roads closed to traffic and pedestrians were Akbar Road, Motilal Nehru Road, Krishna Menon Marg, Mansingh Road, Maulana Azad Road and Janpath.

“The protest went on for about an hour. As many as 115 protesters were detained outside the Congress office. They were taken in police buses to the Tughlaq Road police station,” Deputy Commissioner of Police SBS Tyagi said.

The two buses in which the protesters were taken were damaged during the protest.

Necessary action would be taken against the protesters, as they have violated the Section 144 (of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting the assembly of more than five people) imposed in the area, the police officer said.

The Sikh groups are angry at the acquittal of Sajjan Kumar by a city court on Tuesday in a case related to the killing of five people in the Delhi Cantonment area during violence against Sikhs following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984.

(With inputs from IANS)