Police enforce peace during Delhi bandh

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 27. The ``Delhi bandh'' - called by industrialists and workers to protest the closure of polluting units - passed off peacefully today as police clamped down on the protesters, preventing any major outbreak of violence.

Though there were some angry protests, no incident of looting, arson or firing was reported. The city police - with 40 companies of outside force at their disposal - prevented the protesters from gathering and coming on to streets. To prevent large gatherings and restrict the movement of industrial workers, police personnel blocked the exit points in various industrial areas.

The police also launched a major drive and detained 217 anti- social and mischievous elements across the capital. With police identifying and manning the suspected trouble spots, the protesters appeared disunited.

In all 739 persons were detained under the Delhi Police Act and 56 persons arrested under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Though unity was lacking among workers and the arrests of some workers last week forced many to stay at home, there were still some unruly scenes. Police detained 116 persons in the Bawana area when they tried to disrupt traffic. This constituted the bulk of the 136 arrests in the central, north and northwest areas. Attempts to block traffic were also made at the Shalimar Bagh crossing, the Azadpur crossing, the Azadpur Subzi Mandi and Shahbad Daulatpur village in northwest Delhi.

In the southern range too, there were incidents of minor violence. The police lobbed about 30 teargas shells to disperse a 600-strong crowd which blocked traffic, hurled stones at the police and smashed the panes of a private bus at Basai Darapur in the Moti Nagar area of west Delhi. A case of rioting was registered and 16 persons were arrested. Eight policemen and some civilians were injured.

The police said that while the workers were allowed to sit in protest on the road at eight places, protesters were dispersed from the Nangli Sakrawati T-point, Najafgarh Road, the Dabri- Pankha road crossing and the Mayapuri crossing.

The police action encouraged the bus owners to ply vehicles on the roads by noon. And with markets also open in many parts, the bandh did not affect many.

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