Around 800 cops deployed at various locations to rein in protestors

New Delhi: Barricades, meetings and deployment of personnel at various locations were the strategies used by Delhi Police to control JNU students who were staging a protest over the hostel fee hike.

According to Delhi Police, around 30 police personnel and 15 students were injured during the protest.

Meanwhile, traffic was also affected in the city due to the protest. In the morning, section 144 was imposed near Parliament ahead of the protest. Around 800 police personnel were deployed at various locations and barricades were placed at various places including JNU, Ber Sarai road to stop the protestors. Delhi Police in their Press statement said that a large number of students had gathered at Jawahar Lal Nehru University to march towards the Parliament, even though they had been persuaded by Delhi Police not to do so violating the general orders.

"However, irrespective of police appeals, they forced their way through by breaking the first line of police barricades. Senior police officers present at the spot further persuaded them not to continue any further march, since a high-powered committee had already been constituted to look into their demands," reads press statement of city police.

After protracted persuasive tactics and the general approach of physical containment by Delhi Police, the students mostly seemed convinced, but a group of them suddenly broke away and somehow managed to proceed towards the New Delhi area through the Aurobindo Marg.

They were effectively stopped and contained at Safdarjung Tomb near Jorbagh, at the border of the New Delhi District. However, some agitated groups still attempted to forcibly break the barricades again and had to be pushed back by the police staff. "Around 100 students were detained for showing aggressive defiance to the directions of the police," said police.

"The Delhi Police staff, despite continued defiance by some groups of students, methods of persuasion were resorted to, and there was no use of water cannons, tear gas shells or lathi-charge at any stage of the protest," police said. Women staff had been deployed in adequate numbers to deal with female protestors. Apart from 10 companies of CAPF, around 800 Delhi Police personnel were deployed to handle the protest and ensure the maintenance of law and order.

Traffic was affected in the city due to the protest. On Monday, Delhi Traffic Police tweeted, "Nelson Mandela Rd is closed for movement from Munirka outer ring road to Priya light point. Commuters are advised to use Poorvika Marg for Vasant Kunj from outer ring Rd ."

In another tweet Delhi Police said, "Traffic coming from Vasant Kunj are also to take Poorvika Marg from Nelson Mandela for Outer Ring Road. Aruna Asaf Ali Marg is available at present." Traffic in South Delhi, South West Delhi were affected due to the protest.