The Hindu : Auto drivers turn violent, damage buses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 16, 2002

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Other States - New Delhi

Auto drivers turn violent, damage buses

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 15. At least 16 policemen were injured and five buses were damaged when a mob of agitating autorickshaw drivers turned violent at Uttam Nagar in West Delhi today. The police have arrested 43 persons on charges of rioting and assault.

According to the police, the protestors, who had come in several autorickshaws wanted to meet the Delhi Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, in relation to the current face-off regarding use of electronic meters. However, the police asked them not to agitate as a 10-member delegation had already met the Minister in the morning.

However, the restive crowd insisted on going ahead with their agitation and march towards the house of the Minister located at J-Block in Rajouri Garden. The police then requested the crowd to gather in a ground adjacent to Cambridge School at Subhash Nagar in Uttam Nagar, which was about a kilometre away from the Minister's house, and make a symbolic protest.

The mob did not pay heed to the repeated requests by the police and resorted to violence. In a sudden move they damaged five buses passing from there.

Police reinforcements were brought in even as the crowd started pelting stones at the police. Sixteen policemen, most of them constables and some sub-inspectors, sustained injuries in the pelting. Some of them sustained injuries on their heads. However, they were reported to be out of danger.

The police then had to resort to teargassing. When the mob did not disperse even then, they were lathicharged.

At least 43 persons were arrested on charges of rioting, assaulting and obstructing a public servant during discharge of his duties and causing damage to public property. The police also seized over 20 autorickshaws in which the protestors had managed to reach near the ground. A case under relevant sections has been registered at Uttam Nagar police station and further investigations are on.

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