Yogendra Yadav, 80 others held during protest on farmers’ issues

Leader released later, alleges police beat him up in custody

Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav was on Tuesday arrested along with over 80 Swaraj Abhiyan volunteers during a protest on farmers’ issue at Jantar Mantar before being released hours later by a court.

Mr Yadav, who was dema-nding a farmers’ memorial at Race Course Road, alleged that the police beat him up in custody.

Interestingly, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party condemned the post-midnight crackdown on protesters led by Mr Yadav and came out in his support four months after they had a bitter public spat leading to Mr Yadav’s ouster.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh was booed by Swaraj Abhiyan activists when he came to meet Mr Yadav outside Parliament Street police station to express his support. Anand Kumar, the convenor of Swaraj Abhiy-an, later expressed an apology over the incident alleg-edly orchestrated by some “anti-social” elements.

The police said it took Mr Yadav, AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar and other volunteers into custody under preventive detention and booked them under Sections 107 (action where breach of the peace or disturbance is apprehended) and 151 (arrest to prevent the commission of cognisable offences) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) as they were planning a rally without permission in the high security Delhi Race Course area.

“Yogendra Yadav and about 85 others were arrested at around 1.30 am. They had permission to carry out the protest for two days. Last evening, they asked to extend for permission until August 16. As the deadline got over, we asked them to vacate the place,” said a senior police officer, adding, “Our action has been completely lawful and extra caution is being paid for any gathering in New Delhi area due to heightened terror threat ahead of the Independence Day.”

The protesters, on the other hand, alleged that the policemen manhandled Mr Yadav and others and the SHO of the Parliament Street police station, where they were lodged, threatened to kill him, a charge denied by the police.

Asked about the allegations, Delhi police chief Bhim Sain Bassi said the police has always acted within the ambit of law. “We always act within the ambit of the law,” he said.

Later, Mr Yadav and the other volunteers were produced before a special magistrate at Mandir Marg police station. “The special magistrate ordered unconditional release of Mr Yadav and other members,” said Swaraj Abhiyan leader Ajit Jha.

After chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s tweet in support of Mr Yadav, AAP MP Dharamvir Gandhi appealed to the party to show “large-heartedness” instead of a “mere tweet.” Mr Gandhi urged AAP volunteers to “join and openly support” Mr Yadav and Prashant Bhushanled Jai Kisan Andolan.

“Kejriwalji had said (in an interview) that he would be happy if Mr Yadav and Mr Bhushan return to the party. This is an opportunity for the party to show large heartedness but not through a mere tweet,” Mr Gandhi said. He was referring to Mr Kejriwal’s tweet in which he condemned Mr Yadav’s arrest.