Over 50 detained during pro-Palestine protest at Jantar Mantar
New Delhi (PTI): Police on Friday briefly detained over 50 students and civil society members who gathered at Jantar Mantar for a pro-Palestine protest, police said.
Demonstrators had arrived in different batches at Jantar Mantar and were subsequently detained, a senior police officer said.
"Since the protesters did not have permission, they were detained. They were taken to different police stations of Delhi," said a police officer.
The demonstrators raised "Free Palestine" slogans, demanding immediate ceasefire between the two countries which have been locked in war since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7
There has been mounting global concerns over the plight of civilians in Gaza in view of Israel's punitive air strikes.
The demonstrators tried to march towards Jantar Mantar, raising slogans in favour of Palestine. When the protesters reached Jantar Mantar, policemen along with paramilitary forces pushed them into police buses.
"This protest is just about showing solidarity with Palestinians," a protester shouted from a police van as they were being detained.
Some of the demonstrators alleged that they were detained even before the protest could start. They said the protestors were manhandled. Police officials, however, refuted the charge, saying the there was no permission for the demonstration. "No one was allowed to violate law and order," said the police officer.
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Baba Siddique murder probe: Son names builders, politicians in statement to police
Mumbai (PTI): Former MLA Zeeshan Siddique has named some builders and politicians in his statement to police, while urging them to consider issues of slum development projects in Bandra during the probe into the murder of his father and NCP leader Baba Siddique.
On one occasion, a developer had used abusive language against his father, Zeeshan Siddique told police.
The former MLA also claimed many developers were in constant touch with his father for redevelopment projects.
His statement is part of the chargesheet filed by police in connection with the killing of the former state minister on October 12, 2024.
Baba Siddique (66) was shot dead by three assailants outside his son's office in Mumbai's Bandra East area.
Zeeshan Siddique has told police he and his father were continuously fighting for the rights of slumdwellers in Mumbai's Bandra area, adding that a false case was registered against him for his objection towards a redevelopment project.
"There are many developers who were in regular contact with my father. My father had the habit of writing a diary about his daily work. I learnt that around 5.30 pm to 6 pm (on the day of the murder) my dad was contacted on his WhatsApp by Mohit Kambhoj (a BJP worker). Mohit wanted to meet my father with regard to a project in Bandra by Mundra Builders," Zeeshan said in his statement to the police.
The former MLA in the statement also said, "A builder during a meeting with certain persons regarding the SRA redevelopment project had used abusive words about my father. I request that all the above-mentioned matters be investigated in detail in the investigation of my father's murder."
Police have filed a more than 4,500-page chargesheet before a special MCOCA court in connection with the case.
It has been filed against 26 arrested accused, while three persons -- Shubham Lonkar, Yasin Akhthar and Anmol Bishnoi -- have been shown as wanted accused.
All the accused have been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and are currently in judicial custody.
