Protesters try to break through Parliament Annexe gate, lathicharged

An unannounced protest rally by a few hundred persons from Haryana made Delhi Police to put up barricades and resort to lathicharge to disperse them outside Parliament House complex on Wednesday.

The demands of the protesters, who included women, were not yet clear.

Parliament's Budget session resumed on March 9 after a month-long break. The first part of the session started on January 31 and ended on February 9 after the presentation of the Union Budget.

The protesters waving green flags approached the Parliament House Annexe building gate around 1.45 p.m., prompting the Delhi Police personnel on security duty to put up barricades right outside the gate. As protesters tried to push through, the police lathicharged them.

A few women protesters who managed to go past the barricades were allegedly manhandled by male policemen.

A water canon was brought in but not used and personnel of the paramilitry forces were asked to push the protesters back.

Parliament House's gates were shut and nobody allowed entry till the protesters dispersed.

The Delhi Police quickly threw a security ring around Parliament House and restricted traffic and pedestrian movement in the vicinity.

Senior police officials were not available to comment as to how hundreds of protesters reached the Parliament House Annexe's gate.

--IANS

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