Police fired tear gas shells and used water canons to disperse hundreds of medical students protesting the government's move to hike quota for OBCs.
NEW DELHI: Police on Friday fired tear gas shells and used water canons here to disperse hundreds of medical students protesting the government's proposed plan to reserve 27 percent of seats for other backward classes in higher educational institutions.
Medical students, interns and junior doctors from five medical colleges in the capital - University College of Medical Sciences, Maulana Azad Medical College, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College, Lady Harding Medical College and All India Institute of Medical Sciences - protested near India gate.
"Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had told us that he will comment on the issue only after the elections are over, but there was no statement from him today," said Sujit Shukla, a student leader.
"We gathered near the Lady Harding Medical College for the minister's stand but there was no word from him. As we marched towards the Prime Minister's Office, police stated manhandling us," Shukla said.
Imroz Singh, a student of the Vardhman Mahavir Medical College said that police slapped students, including women, and forcibly took them to the police van.
Police said that students of medical colleges and from Delhi University jammed the traffic on Connaught Place for around 40 minutes.
Besides Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force has also been deployed on Shahjahan Road and Akbar Road in the centre of Delhi. Police protection near the PMO and residence has been heightened.
Police took all the protesting students to Tughlak Road and Parliament Street police station.
"These students were turning violent and we had to detain them. No case has been registered and no one has been arrested so far," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajiv Ranjan.
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