Bhopal: Amid the state-wide bandh called by the agitating farmers, protests and rallies were organised by the Congress party members in various areas of Bhopal on Wednesday. At least 14 protesters were arrested as a preventive measure under Section 151 of CrPC who were later released by the police on bail. Heavy police force was deployed at the outer areas and entry points to the city to prevent any untoward incident inside the capital.
The protests were organised by opposition Congress in the capital as part of the statewide bandh following death of six agitating farmers in alleged police firing in Mandsaur district on Tuesday.
On Wednesday at around 11 am, the Congressmen gathered at 6 number locality to protest the killings. It was lead by Bhopal district Congress president PC Sharma, local corporator from Congress, Yogendra Singh Chouhan and others. During the protests, SP (Bhopal South), Siddharth Bahuguna, ASP, (zone 1) Rajesh Chandel along with sizeable police force was present to prevent any violent activity.
“Holding the protests, we burnt the effigies of PM Modi and CM Chauhan at 6 number locality as they are the ones responsible for the deaths of farmers in the state. During the protests we urged the shopkeepers in the market to shut down their shops in support of farmers which they agreed but the police later asked them to open the shops,” said local Congress corporator Chauhan speaking to Free Press adding that from 6 number locality they went protesting in 10 and 11 number localities where also they urged shopkeepers to support the protests by shutting down their shops.
In 10 number locality some Congress members tried to forcefully close the shops in the market but were stopped by the police present in the area.
“Our party members were trying to peacefully ask the shopkeepers to close their shops in support of the bandh but the police lathicharged them and arrested 14 of them. They were later released in the evening after we applied for their bail,” added Chauhan.
The police, however, said the arrested were not associated with any political organisation or party.
“While the protests were going on in various areas of the city, some people gathered in the 10 number area and tried to create ruckus under the umbrella of protests. As a preventive action, we dispersed them and arrested 14 of them as preventive arrest under Section 151 of CrPC. They were later handed over to local sub-divisional magistrate. They were not under any banner,” said ASP (zone 1) Chandel.
The Congress held protests in other areas on the outskirts like Ratibad, Karond Mandi and Misrod. In Misrod protesters burnt the effigy of CM Chouhan. They also tried to block the road but were removed by the police.
Earlier, heavy police were deployed in the outer areas and entry points to the capital in Misrod, Parwalia, Khajuri Sadak, Berasia and Sukhi Sewania. No vehicle was allowed to enter the city without police checking. Heavy police force was also deployed at CM House at Shyamla Hills to prevent any violent protests there.
