Tension prevailed at ‘Dharna Chowk’ near Indira Park on Monday when police caned agitators demanding the restoration of the location as the designated spot for protests in the city.
Several people were injured during the police action which began after two groups of protesters clashed over the ‘Occupy Dharna Chowk’ programme called by Left parties and various people’s organisations.
Policemen were present in large numbers at the site since daybreak even as Commissioner of Police M. Mahender Reddy announced that permission had been granted for two protests at the location, one for saving the ‘Dharna Chowk’ and another for shifting the same.
Members of the ‘Save Dharna Chowk’ agitation who reached the site after a rally were greeted by another group of protesters, ostensibly local residents, demanding that the no more protests be allowed at the popular spot as these were causing a disturbance. A verbal altercation between the two groups soon turned into a brawl as several people joined the “Save Dharna Chowk’ group.
Barricades broken
The barricades erected by the police at the near of the Chowk were broken by agitators, and both groups hurled chairs at each other. This prompted the police cane charge.
Following the action, those demanding that the venue for protests be shifted fled the scene.
However, those for retaining the site continued towards the location despite the brief caning, and occupied the tents.
