Police personnel remove a supporter of Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila Grounds, early on Sunday. Photo: AP
With talks breaking down, police swooped down on Baba Ramdev a little past midnight and detained him after firing tear gas shells and resorting to lathicharge on his supporters to end his day-old indefinite hunger strike on black money issue.
The dramatic police action came after the government and the 46-year-old Yoga Guru had accused each other the previous night of betrayal on mutual assurances.
The drama that broke the midnight calm in the Ramlila Maidan a little after 1 AM unfolded when a large number of police personnel descended at the protest venue where Baba Ramdev was demanding immediate action to bring back black money stashed in foreign tax havens.
After day break, police cleared all the remnants of Baba’s support by evicting his followers from the protest site amidst stiff resistance.
Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said Baba Ramdev was detained as he was leaving the site.
Later sources said he was allowed to go out of Delhi and probably he was headed to Haridwar.
Earlier, Home Secretary G. K. Pillai had maintained that he was not arrested or detained, a point echoed by Delhi Police Commissioner B. K. Gupta, who also rushed to the spot.
Mr. Gupta said there were some security concerns and that the permission for the yoga camp has been cancelled.
He said Baba Ramdev’s supporters indulged in stone throwing. Police did not use force except using some tear gas, he added
A night of chaos
Chaos prevailed at the spot after 1.10 a.m. when news came that the yoga guru may be arrested after he decided to continue with his fast following with the worsening of stand between him and the government.
Soon, Baba Ramdev’s supporters formed human chains to prevent his arrest.
The sudden presence of a large number of police personnel led to a commotion as hundreds of supporters of Baba Ramdev surrounded amid speculation that he may be arrested.
Baba Ramdev appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow him to be arrested during daytime.
“Why am I being arrested without any information, at night? I appeal to people to maintain calm...,” a sweating Baba Ramdev said to his supporters.
A section of supporters threw pots, tripods and mike stands on policemen to prevent them from coming close to the stage.
The crowd dispersed from the stage after police fired teargas shells.
A police vehicle was seen entering at the site where chaos was seen, while Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were seen taking away some of the supporters from the site.
Banners were torn, mattresses and furniture were seen all over the site. Parts of the stage also caught a minor fire that broke out during the melee.
People were seen vacating the dais and the surrounding area after teargas enveloped the whole area.
Police said Section 144 has been imposed at the area under which any gathering of people would not be permitted.
The Ramlila Grounds was booked for one month by Baba Ramdev, who had also turned the venue for his satyagrah.
Organisers were seen asking people not to leave the pandal and continue to protest. Some of them, associated with Baba Ramdev’s movement, contacting their associates in respective States to protest against police action on Sunday morning.
A large number of people were leaving the spot, some were seen arguing with the policemen that why they have taken such an action when their protest was peaceful.
Bharat Swabhiman Trust chief Jaideep Arya claimed that Baba Ramdev has been arrested. However, Delhi Police refused to confirm the same.
30 injured
Around 30 people were injured when police fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd which had gathered at Ramlila Maidan to support Baba Ramdev.
“Almost thirty people, who sustained injuries have been admitted to nearby Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital,” a senior medical official in LNJP hospital said.
Dr. Lokesh of the LNJP hospital said some of the followers, who were admitted, suffered limb and head injuries.
A senior police official said that some of the injured have also been admitted to AIIMS trauma centre and the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Number of casualties admitted in the two hospitals is not known yet, he said.
Some of the followers were also injured in the commotion while they were running to escape the teargas shells.
Four women followers of the Baba, who sustained injuries in their heads, told police that they will not go to hospital and instead sat on the footpath outside the Ramlila Maidan as a mark of protest.
“We were beaten up mercilessly...We will not go to the hospital. This is our protest,” one of the followers said.
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