A protest by Dalits against the demolition of a Ravidas temple in the Tughlakabad area turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving several people, including policemen, injured.
A heavy police force was deployed in the area as tension prevailed after police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters and detained Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and 50 others, a senior police officer said.
However, police have denied any reports of injury to the protesters.
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"At around 7.30pm, the mob that gathered at Ravi Das Marg turned unruly and became violent despite persuasion and appeal by police to maintain peace and started pelting stones and attacking policemen," DCP (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said.
"Mild and reasonable force had to be used to disperse the unruly mob. Some policemen have sustained injuries in the incident. There are no injuries to the public. Some members of the unruly mob have been detained and being verified. Appropriate legal action is being taken in this matter," he said, adding that a case was registered in the matter.
The protest attended by a large number of people from different states caused massive traffic jams in several areas of the city.
According to the police, violent protesters damaged a few vehicles and two motorcycles were set ablaze.
The Bhim Army is planning to install a bust of Sant Ravidas at the site of a temple dedicated to the 15th century spiritual leader which was demolished by the DDA, its leaders said on Wednesday.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has promised to install a bust of Sant Ravidas at the site. He said that if he dies, his body should be taken to the temple, the leader of the dalit group said.
The temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on August 10 on the orders of the Supreme Court.
