Demonstrators comprising girls and boys gathered right from the morning at India Gate and marched to Raisina Hill where Rashtrapati Bhavan and Prime Minister's Office are located.
The looked a battle ground as their repeated attempts to break the barricades and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan invited at least six rounds of spraying of water jets, teargassing and cane charging, injuring around 30 protesters.
Some policemen were also injured in the throwing of stones and other missiles at them. Police vehicles were also damaged in the violence.
As high-drama played out at the Vijay Chowk, near Parliament House, political parties condemned the police action and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement.
The Prime Minister called Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to his house and discussed a series of steps to ensure safety of women in the capital and to ensure that swift justice was meted out to the criminals involved in the bestial act on Sunday night when the 23-year-old woman was gangraped in a moving bus.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also called the Prime Minister and the Home Minister over telephone and discussed the issue. She wanted appropriate action in the case.
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The protesters fought pitched battles with the police through out the day. Reinforcements were rushed as the Rapid Action Force joined in attempts to contain the situation.
As the dusk fell, candle-light marches were taken at the India Gate, the scene of protests in the last few days. MORE