NEW DELHI, May 27: The Delhi police resorted to a lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells at thousands of Bahujan Samaj Party workers led by party president Kanshi Ram, after they turned violent near the ITO crossing this morning.At least 30 persons, including five policemen, were injured in the incident. Traffic movement along Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg was disrupted for almost an hour. Kanshi Ram was arrested along with several party workers. They were released later in the afternoon.
The BSP men, protesting against the functioning of the BJP Government at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh were marching towards Parliament House when they were stopped on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg near the ITO crossing and asked to change their route.
Violence erupted soon after BSP workers started pelting stones at the policemen. Some of the workers also broke down the barricades across the road. The police retaliated with lathis, leaving at least five BSP workers bleeding profusely.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
