New Delhi, Apr 22: Protesters gathered at Delhi Police Headquarters for the third day today demanding removal of Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and justice for the five-year-old rape victim even as police put up barricades to prevent December-like protests near Parliament where traffic was disrupted.
Three Metro stations -- Race Course Road, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan -- close to Parliament, India Gate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence were closed for public anticipating anti-rape protests.
The measures came against the backdrop of re-convening of the Budget session today.
However, in the morning hours, AIIMS did not witness any protest like in the past three days.
Chaos was witnessed near Parliament as police closed Red Cross Road, Rafi Marg, Raisina Road and some crossings on Rajpath. There was trouble for vehicular movement near India Gate also as barricades were erected on Mansingh Road.
Caught unawares, many commuters coming from south Delhi had to take long winding routes to reach Connaught Place and nearby localities.
Long queues of vehicles were seen on many arterial roads leading to India Gate.
A handful of BJP and Aam Aadmi Party activists restarted their protest this morning outside the Police Headquarters near the busy ITO which was barricaded. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the PHQ.
As BJP supporters geared up to start a protest from its Delhi state office, police blocked Pandit Pant Marg where it is located. A large police posse was also placed near the BJP office.
Barricades were setup on the roads leading to Parliament, near the Central Secretariat metro station, India Gate and near the Delhi Police Headquarters in ITO, to prevent any incident.
The barricading and checking by senior police official have led to traffic snarls in these areas.
A Delhi Metro spokesperson said they closed down two more stations today on police instructions to prevent gatherings near India Gate and the Prime Minister's residence.
The station at Udyog Bhavan has been closed for public from 10:15 am while the facility at Central Secretariat was closed at 10:55 am onwards till further directions.
However, the interchange facility will be available at Central Secretariat station.
The Race Course Road Station was closed from 6:45 pm last evening, hours after a group of Aam Aadmi Party activists tried to stage protest at 7-Race Course Road residence of Singh demanding the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar in connection with the incident.
Udyog Bhavan Station is close to India Gate while the Race Course Road Station is near to the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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