Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
“If anything happens to bhaiya, the government will be responsible,” Deoband district head of Bhim Army Deepak Baudhh told The Quint, as ‘bhaiya’, Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, was taken to the hospital by police after an hour-long standoff on Tuesday, 12 March.
On 13 March, an FIR was registered against the Bhim Army chief under Section 147 (rioting), Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), Section 171F (punishment for undue influence or impersonation during elections), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Bhim Army supporters were on their way to Muzaffarnagar in UP, after having started off from Saharanpur on Monday and staying overnight at Kansingpura, when the standoff with police began. The rally was scheduled to reach Delhi by 15 March. The supporters were walking with their blue Bhim Army and national flags when the UP police intercepted them. The police insisted that the procession was violating the model code of conduct, while the Bhim Army members repeatedly said that they had requisite permission.
However, despite repeated requests, the Bhim Army refused to share the said permission with The Quint. SSP Saharanpur Dinesh Kumar, meanwhile, said investigation will be conducted.
At one point during the standoff, the Bhim Army supporters gathered in front of a police vehicle and did not allow it to pass. Slogans like “Modi Yogi Murdabaad, Chandra Shekhar Bhaiya Zindabad” were raised, Deepak Baudhh said.
Right before being taken to hospital, Azad had said that this was an attack on Dalits by the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government.
“The fight we are fighting for Dalits is being suppressed, but we will not allow it. This is being done under the instructions of the Yogi Adityanath government,” Azad said. Right after this, his blood pressure shot up and he was taken 60-odd kilometers away to Meerut to Anand Hospital.
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