The march taken out by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) to the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) here on Friday, in protest against ‘police excesses’ on protesting students and youths, was largely peaceful.
The police deployment was heavy. Hundreds of DYFI workers, who took part in the march, were stopped at by the police near the traffic circle in front of the Civil Station at 11 a.m.
The police barricaded the road to the SP office. An Executive Magistrate was also present. The protestors then staged a sit-in on the road. The protestors dispersed after they were addressed by DYFI leaders.
The protestors threw stones and a television cameraman and a news photographer were manhandled allegedly by them.
The police deployed its water cannon vehicle, Varun. The police personnel carried the new three-pin grenades, plastic pellets, and rubber bullets. The police also video-graphed the protestors to identify trouble-makers.
Inaugurating the march, DYFI State president M. Swaraj said the police should not be under the impression that they could induce fear in DYFI workers.
If the government decided to jail all the DYFI workers, existing prisons in the State would be inadequate, he added.
DYFI leaders A.N. Shamseer, P. Santhosh, and P.P. Divya were among those who led the march.
