In a major security breach, 143 protesters demanding reservation for the Jat community forced their way into the official residence of Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde here on Wednesday. The Home Ministry has issued a show-cause notice to the Delhi Police, while 13 policemen were suspended pending inquiry.
The incident took place when three buses carrying the protesters reached Mr. Shinde’s Krishna Menon Marg bungalow around 2 p.m., taking the security personnel by surprise. Although they attempted to disperse the protesters, 143 of them, allegedly led by one Yashpal Singh, managed to barge in. The Home Minister is in Russia at present.
As soon the protesters streamed inside, an alert was sounded and senior police officers were briefed about the situation Additional forces were called in and the protesters were finally overpowered, bundled into police vehicles and taken away.
While there was no confirmation till late in the evening, police sources said the protesters were detained and discussions were under way to initiate legal action against them.
“Members of the Jat community have been on a protest at Jantar Mantar for the past month demanding reservation. In the afternoon, they boarded three buses and without intimating the police reached the residence of the Union Home Minister. They were, however, rounded up immediately,” said a source, adding that there was no indication of such actions occurring.
Taking cognisance of the security lapse, the Union Home Ministry sought an explanation from senior Delhi Police officers who were busy till late at night preparing an action-taken report.