Women were not safe even at the anti- rape protests at Vijay Chowk, which saw thousands of people demanding stricter laws to punish sexual crimes, in the wake of Delhi gangrape case. Pretending to show solidarity with the cause of women, there were many hooligans present in the impromptu protests which caught the protesters and government unawares.
Sources in the police have told Firstpost that on the first two days of protest- December 22 and 23 – Delhi police’s PCR vans received 42 calls from women protesters complaining of molestation and being harassed by men.
Thousands attended the protests at India Gate seeking stronger laws against sexual assault. PTI
“If this is true, then it shows that we have a long way to go when it comes to women’s rights. There are people who do not even spare women who are out facing lathi charge and water cannons fighting for a stringent rape laws, ” said Sucheta De, former JNUSU president, who participated in the protest.
The protest, which began on a peaceful note on Saturday morning, soon saw the presence of lumpen elements who were also seen destroying police barricades, anti- riot vehicles and the preparations done for Republic Day.
The Delhi police has maintained that the entry of lumpen elements in the crowd was the reason behind the clamp down on protests and the enforcement of prohibitory laws in New Delhi district, which banned the assembly of more than four or more persons.
