In a swift action on Saturday, Delhi Police personnel removed a group of demonstrators who had staged a sit-in protest near the Parliament complex in New Delhi. The protest was directed against the recent suspension of the life sentence and subsequent bail granted to Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar.
Protesters Demand Cancellation of Bail
The gathering, which included prominent social activist Yogita Bhayana and Congress leader Mumtaz Patel, assembled in the high-security area around 4 pm. The protesters sat on the road and began raising slogans, voicing their strong opposition to the Delhi High Court's decision. Their primary demand was the immediate cancellation of the bail granted to Sengar just last week.
Police Action and Aftermath
Law enforcement officials intervened to clear the road and disperse the gathering, citing regulations that prohibit such demonstrations in the sensitive zone around Parliament. A police official stated that the protesters were removed to ensure law and order and the smooth flow of traffic. No one was detained during the action, according to the police statement.
Background of the Unnao Case
The protest stems from a deeply controversial legal development. Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP MLA, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal rape of a minor girl from Unnao in 2017. The case had drawn national outrage. However, in a significant turn of events last week, the Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence and granted him bail, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism and protests from women's rights groups, political parties, and civil society.
The removal of the protest near Parliament highlights the ongoing public anger and the delicate legal and social tensions surrounding high-profile sexual assault cases in India. It underscores the continued scrutiny on the judiciary's decisions in matters that have galvanized the nation's conscience.
