Tractor set ablaze on high-security Rajpath
Item
Title
Tractor set ablaze on high-security Rajpath
Description
NEW DELHI: Despite Delhi Police claiming to have beefed up security in the capital in the wake of farmers’ agitation in the neighbouring states, a group of 15-20 men, allegedly members of Punjab Youth Congress, managed to reach the high-security Rajpath and set afire a tractor on Monday morning to support the protest against the recent farm laws. Five people have been arrested. All five men are residents of Punjab and have been identified as Manjot Singh, Raman Deep Singh Sindhu, Rahul Kumar, Sahib and Sumit Pal. The men claimed they were led by Punjab Youth Congress president Brinder Dhillon, who is yet to be traced, police said. Around 7.30am, the men arrived at India Gate in a few cars and a truck carrying the tractor, toppled the tractor in the middle of Rajpath and set it on fire, police said. The protesters, carrying a portrait of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, raised slogans in support of the agitation and even hanged an effigy from a streetlight pole but the cops stopped them from burning it. Punjab Youth Congress went live on its Facebook page during the incident and some participants also telecast it on social media platforms. Later, a video went viral on social media, in which some policemen were seen standing near the burning tractor. DCP (New Delhi) Eish Singhal said a patrolling van had reached the spot. “The fire was controlled and the tractor was removed. Seeing police, the men fled in their vehicles. However, five of them were caught and the truck was seized along with an Innova car,” he said. The arrested men “have disclosed that it was a planned protest. Their political affiliations are being verified. Efforts are on to track the absconding members,” the DCP added. Police are checking if the same tractor was burnt in Ambala on September 20 as several pictures have emerged showing both with the same numberplate. The men have been booked under Epidemic Act, Disaster Management Act, Damage to Public Property Act and IPC.
Publisher
The Times of India
Date
2020-09-29
Coverage
Delhi