4 Youth Congress workers sent to 5-day police custody
Were arrested for protesting at AI Summit venue
A Delhi court on Saturday sent the four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, who were arrested for protesting at the AI Summit venue, to five-day police custody.
Earlier, the court reserved its order on police plea seeking five-day custody of the four protesting Youth Congress workers. The arrested IYC workers were produced before Judicial Magistrate Ravi, who reserved the order after completion of arguments.
The arrested protesters were Krishna Hari, national secretary of the Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary, Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president, Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana.
The Delhi Police had sought five-day custody of the arrested protesters, arguing that they raised anti-national slogans and wore T-shirts with objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The counsel for the accused argued that they were associated with a political party, and had exercised their democratic right to a peaceful protest at Bharat Mandapam.
“Their simple demand was for employment. Government jobs are out of reach. Even in MNCs, there are no decent-paying jobs. Today’s youth are frustrated,” it argued.
The Delhi Police had filed an FIR under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for unlawful assembly, violating prohibitory orders and causing hurt to, assaulting and disobeying a public servant. As many as four IYC workers were arrested in this regard, they added.
According to the police, the group had entered the venue wearing sweaters and jackets over T-shirts carrying provocative messages. Near the hall, one of them removed his outer layer and began waving the printed T-shirt, setting off the protest.
Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla said the protesters were swiftly removed to prevent any disruption to law and order. They were taken to the Tilak Marg police station, and legal action was initiated.
