This Article is From Jun 05, 2011

There was no lathicharge: Delhi Police counters Baba Ramdev's charges

New Delhi: With Baba Ramdev crying foul over atrocities by the police during the late-night crackdown at his camp at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, the Delhi Police today categorically denied all allegations, claiming that no one was lathicharged.

Addressing media persons, Dharmendra Kumar, Special CP, Law and Order said, "There was no lathicharge...only tear gas shells were used, that too when they started throwing stones etc." He added that 39 policemen had been injured in the stone-pelting.

The police's claim contradicts Ramdev's allegation that the police had used lathicharge against his supporters. Terming last night's police action as the "darkest night of my life", the yoga guru said that the police dragged and beat up his supporters, adding that he had not seen such atrocities before. "The police force 5000-10,000 in number, did not even spare the smallest children. Women and children were dragged and beaten up." (Watch: There were chills down my spine, says Ramdev)

Ramdev had described, voice cracking, how he wept and told "cops to stop misbehaving with women supporters", but to no avail. Baba Ramdev, who initially escaped the police dressed as a woman, said he was not dressed in a white salwar-kurta because he wanted to and described how he spent hours hidden among women, face covered with a dupatta. (Read: Police found Baba Ramdev dressed as a woman)

But the police put the entire onus of the chain of events on Baba Ramdev claiming that the yoga guru had been politely asked to leave the venue. But he tried to resist the police which compelled them to initiate action.

At 1 am, close to 600 policemen arrived at Ramlila Maidan to demand that the crowd of 60,000 supporters disperse. Their argument was that the gathering had been granted permission only for a yoga camp and not as a mass demonstration. (Watch: Thousands gather at Ramlila Maidan)

A group of policemen trooped onto the stage, reportedly after some people threw stones at them. The Baba asked them to go away. He then leapt from his stage, his saffron robes fanning out behind him, into the crowd of supporters. Seated on a follower's shoulders, the Baba then delivered a lengthy speech, waving his fist in the air. Finally, the police managed to get to him. (Watch: Eyewitness account) | (Read: Ramdev wants peaceful agitation against police action)

At 2 am, teargas shells were launched upon the thousands of people who were present, allegedly in an attempt to force the crowds to leave the grounds. A small fire broke out on the stage that had been used by the Baba but fortunately, it did not spread.

At 5.30 am, the Baba was evicted from Delhi and moved to his ashram in Haridwar.
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