People's Democracy

Police Lathi Charge Anti-US Demonstrators In Mumbai

500 Arrested On March 20

 P R Krishnan

THE call for a demonstration demanding “US Must Quit Iraq” was well responded to by a cross section of people in Mumbai on March 20. The more than 500 people who gathered at Flora Fountain near Churchgate in South Mumbai were however not allowed by the police to enter the Martyrs (Hutatma) Memorial Circle. Taking shelter of Section 144 in force, the police cordoned off the entire Martyrs Chowk area in the afternoon. But as the anti US demonstrators began pouring in and breaking the ban at  different location around the area, the police began lathicharging them and throwing them into the waiting police vans.

The police were eager to exhibit their threatening postures before arresting the protesting demonstrators and dragging them into the  police vehicles. In the process, many of the demonstrators including women received lathi blows and sustained bleeding injuries.

The demonstration was organised by the committee “Forum Against War and Terrorism” which comprises of political parties such as CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, Kamgar Aghadi CPI(ML), Lal Nishan Party and trade unions like CITU, AITUC , Sarva Sramikh Sangh, Trade Union Solidarity Committee etc as part of the world wide demonstrations on March 20. However, the anti-US demonstration seemed to be not to the liking of the NCP-INC rulers in Maharashtra and that explains the reason why the police prohibited the demonstration and resorted to arresting the demonstrators.

Those arrested were taken to the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg police station and released later in the day. Amongst those who were arrested included K L Bajaj, Mahendra Singh, Dr Vivek Monteiro and Sayed Ahmed of CPI(M), Sukunar Damle and Prakash Reddy of CPI, Dr K K Theckedath of BUCTU, Dada Samant of Kamgar Aghadi Nishan Party, Jayat Chavan of Sarva Sramik Sanghatana and N Vasudeven of Solidarity Committee. Amongst the women leaders who were arrested included Mariam Dhawale, Sugandhi Francis and Sonia Gill of AIDWA, Shailendra Kamble of DYFI and Neela Prabha of Bhartiya Mahila Federation.