Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad was on Tuesday detained by the UP police in Deoband before the start of a padayatra. The Muzaffarnagar rally was cancelled following his detention.
The Bahujan Adhikar Suraksha Yatra, organised by the Bhim Army, was supposed to have a meeting at Muzaffarnagar on March 13 before culminating at a public rally at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on March 15.
According to members of the Bhim Army, the rally was supposed to start on Tuesday morning and head towards Muzaffarnagar. But police personnel came and surrounded the party chief and detained him.
Fell unconscious
Mr. Azad fell unconscious and was admitted to Anand Hospital in Meerut, said members of the Bhim Army.
He was surrounded by a number of UP police personnel in hospital, they said.
JNUSU chief N. Sai Balaji and AISA leader Sucheta De, who were accompanying Mr. Azad, also courted arrest.
Ms. De said, “The police detained Mr. Azad, Bhim Army members and villagers, who had gathered in large numbers against the authoritarian attitude of the police. Due to the commotion, Mr. Azad collapsed and lost consciousness.”
“Were all rallies and yatras cancelled after elections were declared? Or was it only of those who fearlessly challenged the Saffron regime? Chandrashekhar was not allowed to ride his bike. Which law prevents movement of an individual?,” questioned Ms. De.
No change in Delhi event
Organisers said that the Muzaffarnagar leg of the rally was cancelled but the event would go on as planned in Delhi on March 15.
Mr. Azad was released last year after being jailed under the National Security Act (NSA).
He was arrested from Himachal Pradesh in June 2017 in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which several people were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.
