Police case filed over rail fare hike protest, one held

Delhi Police Tuesday registered a first information report (FIR) against around 60 Congress leaders and supporters and arrested a party member for creating ruckus outside Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda's residence here against the rail fare hike.

The Congress supporters, including women, gathered outside Gowda's residence in Tyagraj Marg in Lutyens Delhi around 3 p.m. and staged the protest.

"An FIR has been registered against around 60 Congress Supporters - including Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely and party leader Mukesh Sharma - and 34-year-old party member Chattar Singh has been arrested," Additional Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal told IANS.

The protestors were booked under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.

"Riot sections have also been included in the FIR," said a police official.

"The protest ended within half an hour. Four people were detained just after the protest, but three of them were released later," he said.

Some of the protestors also stopped Gowda's vehicle outside his house.

Congress leader Mukesh Sharma removed the minister's name plate and stamped on it.

Arvinder Singh Lovely, who was with the agitators, said the protest should be peaceful.

A few minutes after the protest, adequate police force, including women constables, was deployed outside the railway minister's residence.