Delhi police have accused Aam Aadmi Party protesters of indulging in "riotous acts and using criminal force" during the violent protests outside the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday.
According to the report submitted by police, “Sub-inspector Sunil Kumar along with force from Parliament street police station reached the BJP headquarters and found that around 50 AAP activists had assembled.
He tried to persuade and pacify the protestors to go back but the crowd continued shouting slogans and soon, the number of AAP protestors swelled to 150-200," said the report.
Following this, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anyesh Roy reached the spot with extra force. By that time, protestors had started climbing the wall and the main gate. They had also torn off the hoardings outside.
"The assembly was declared unlawful on the PA system and they were asked to disperse, but the crowd continued to indulge in riotous acts and stone pelting," the report stated.
With no alternative left, police had to resort to the usage of water cannons to disperse the crowd.
"They got more aggressive and broke the glass panes of the vehicles, tore off the seats, broke the nozzle of the water after mounting over it. Further, the unruly mob regrouped and moved towards the main gate of the BJP headquarters and started throwing sticks and stones upon the few BJP workers assembled inside," the report said.
In the melee, the cars parked outside also got damaged.
With reinforcement, including senior officers of New Delhi District, the crowd was brought under control.
According to the report, four policemen, 16 AAP workers, nine BJP workers and one media person suffered injuries during the scuffle and were taken to RML Hospital.
In connection with this incident, 14 protestors were arrested and a FIR was registered on charges of rioting, assaulting or obstructing public servant from discharging his duty and on charges of causing damage to property.
On Thursday, Delhi's Chief electoral office served a notice to the AAP for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct over the violent protest outside BJP headquarters.
New Delhi's Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Ameya Abhyankar had asked the AAP to explain why action should not be initiated against it for holding a protest without permission from poll officials and in violation of the MCC, which came into force after the poll dates were announced.
The Aam Aadmi Party replied to the show-cause notice by saying it was an "instant reaction" to its chief Arvind Kejriwal's detention in Gujarat.
In its reply, the AAP said the protest was not a "planned event" and maintained that it respects the Model Code of Conduct in force ahead of Lok Sabha polls, officials said.
The protest was an instant reaction to the events in Gujarat and it was not part of campaigning for a party candidate, the party said.
The party said it respects the Model Code of Conduct and will cooperate with the Election Commission in implementing it.
"We have received the reply from Aam Aadmi Party. The reply is under examination. We will send our reports to the Election Commission," said Abhiyankar.
Image: AAP workers protest outside the BJP HQ in Delhi
