AAP workers abusing and provoking us: Delhi Police

AAP supporters clash with the police as they attempt to jump barricades

New Delhi:  Cops deployed at the venue of the protest launched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal near India Gate, say they are being "abused and provoked" by Aam Aadmi Party volunteers, whose numbers are increasing by the moment as they try to bring down barricades and join their leader.

"There is a plan by volunteers to abuse us, provoke us. They are trying to get into an altercation," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, SBS Tyagi. The senior policeman said he had asked his men to be "patient." 

Twice today, AAP supporters clashed with the police. Hundreds of slogan-shouting people climbed and crossed barricades, severely straining the cops who have refused to let more people into the sealed area where Mr Kejriwal is protest along with his ministers and other party leaders . 

The police used batons to restore order as the protesters clashed with them, injuring several people, including a 60-year -old man who alleged that cops kept beating him even after he fell down. At least four policemen have been injured too. 
 
Every policeman in Delhi is on duty with the city on alert before Republic Day. At last count 4000 of them were deployed at Mr Kejriwal's protest venue, which is in a high security zone with Parliament, central government offices and the President's home less than a kilometre away. 

Mr Kejriwal is protesting against the Delhi police chief's refusal to suspend five cops who the CM accuses of dereliction of duty. He has asked honest cops to shed their uniform and join his protest.