ABVP to stage protest till sloganeers are arrested

The activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) continued their protest on Wednesday also, demanding the arrest of people who raised anti-national slogans at an event held in United Theological College on August 13.

Hundreds of agitators gathered at the State Bank of Mysore Circle and burnt an effigy of the Amnesty International India (AII). The protesters blocked the road near the circle around 12 noon.

The police asked them to leave, but the agitators wanted to submit a memorandum to the city police commissioner. When their request was turned down, the agitators demanded that Police Commissioner Megharikh address them at the spot. Before things could go out of control, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) K S R Charan Reddy arrived at the spot.

Reddy received the memorandum from ABVP members and addressed them. “The case is being investigated by a team led by an assistant commissioner of police. We are recording the statements of many people who were present at the event and also of the organisers. The official videographer and photographer of the event have been asked to provide the footage of the event,” he said.

Reddy said that some footages had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to ascertain that they have not been doctored. During the investigation, it was learnt that some have used Kashmiri language at the event and the language experts were being roped in for translation.

The complainant, who was present at the event will also be questioned and his statement will be recorded. The police are making efforts to trace the people who took part in the programme. Some organisations have come forward to help in identifying and tracing the audience. The management of the United Theological College is also being questioned, added Reddy.

Vinay Bidare, national secretary of ABVP told DH that the police were not willing to take action against Amnesty International India. “We have decided to continue our protest till the arrests are made. We will also hold protests near the residences of the chief minister and home minister. The government has been acting unfair, by trying to protect anti-nationals,” he claimed.

Sachin Rathod, organising secretary of ABVP, Bengaluru Central, said that they would hold protest on Thursday too, without intimating the police. Traffic near the Mysore Bank Circle, K G Road, Majestic, Palace Road, Avenue Road, Nrupathunga Road and the surrounding areas, was affected for more than 30 minutes.