Police break up Baba Ramdev's fast, whisk him away

The gloves came off early on Sunday as the government moved at midnight to break up Baba Ramdev’s fast against corruption. Delhi Police burst teargas shells to disperse the Baba’s followers, who had gathered around him to form a “human chain” security cordon after police descended on the scene at around 1.10 am on Sunday. Reports from the scene said the Baba was “physically removed”’ from the Ramlila ground and that many people were injured in the melee, which left the venue of the fast in disarray. [caption id=“attachment_19923” align=“alignright” width=“380” caption=“Delhi Police took away Baba Ramdev from the fast venue in a midnight crackdown. Reuters”]  [/caption] Police sources were at pains to emphasise that they had not arrested Ramdev, and that he would be served an externment order - directing him to stay away from Delhi. The crackdown was initiated after a day of mutual accusations and recriminations between Ramdev camp followers and the government over the Baba’s conditions for calling off his  fast.  More details here and here Chaos and commotion prevailed when the police, including a contingent of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), arrived at the scene and sought to approach Ramdev, who was sleeping. When the police arrived, reports claimed, the Baba’s supporters carried him on their shoulders onto the dais.  The Baba directed the police not to approach the dais, but the police burst tear gas shells to disperse the crowds. Some eyewitnesses said the police lathicharged the supporters, and physically moved out many of his followers who refused to budge. After the police arrived, Ramdev addressed his supporters and appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow him to be arrested during the daytime. “Why am I being arrested without any information, at night?”  He then  appealed to the people of Delhi to come in large numbers to the protest venue. A section of Ramdev’s supporters threw pots, tripods and mike stands at the police to prevent them from approaching the dais. But when the police fired teargas shells, the crowd dispersed from the dais. PTI reports said organisers were seen asking people not to leave the pandal and continue the protest. Some of them, associated with Baba’s movement, contacted their associates in their respective states and told them to protest the police action on Sunday morning. Large number of people were leaving the Ramlila Grounds; some others were seen arguing with the policemen and asking why they had  taken this  action when their protest was peaceful. Delhi top cop heckled A senior Delhi Police official was heckled by about 25 women who were enraged by the police action at the Ramlila grounds, wire service reports said.  Additional DCP D K Gupta was surrounded by the women who even tried to tear away his official uniform. Gupta managed to free himself, but some of his medals were detached in the melee. Later, women police personnel came to his rescue. Move to evict mediapersons fails After dispersing Ramdev’s followers from the Ramlila grounds, police  tried to forcibly evict mediapersons covering the protest. But the attempt failed  when mediapersons resisted. When television cameramen from various television news channels recorded the police action, the police  tried to  disconnect the power connections in order to disrupt their coverage. 30 injured PTI reports that some 30  people were injured in the melee. “About 30 people who sustained injuries have been admitted to nearby Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital,” a senior medical official in LNJP hospital said. Another doctor at the hospital said that some of the followers had  limb and head injuries. Earlier, Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said Baba Ramdev had not been arrested or detained; that point was echoed by Delhi Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta, who went to the spot. Gupta said there were some security concerns and that the permission for the yoga camp has been cancelled. He claimed that Ramdev’s supporters had thrown stones, and that the police did not use force except to use some tear gas. Baba ‘kidnapped’, says aide One of Baba Ramdev’s key aides and spokesman, Tijarawala, alleged the police had “kidnapped” their guru.  He said the police swooped down on those sleeping at the Ramlila Maidan and had taken the Baba away away. “I have never seen such an emergency-like condition in my life. We have not been told about his whereabouts and we are worried about his well being. The police can do anything to him,” he said. He  appealed to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to issue a direction to the Delhi Police to release him. Agitation to continue Ramdev’s supporters said that Swami Sampoornanand, who is second in command, had taken charge of the agitation and had asked people to gather at Jantar Mantar. The supporters also claimed that along with Ramdev,  Acharya Bala Krishnan and Jaydeep Arya, head of Bharat Swabhiman Manch, had been taken away by the police. With inputs from PTI **Video of the midnight drama that unfolded at the Ramlila maidan in Delhi **