Police on Friday arrested more than 150 activists who attempted to storm the Nehru Maidan the venue of official celebration of Rajyotsava Day holding black flags. They were released later.
The activists led by Muneer Katipalla, president of the district unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), alleged that the government had no moral right to observe the Rajyotsava as it had failed to hand over the investigation into the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl, whose body was found a year ago near Dharmasthala, to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Addressing protesters on the occasion Mr. Muneer said that the activists do not agree with the findings of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which submitted a report to the government in the case absolving some of the persons accused in the case.