Former J&K Governor, Khap leaders protest after police stop them from holding meeting at park
The Hindu
“We have not detained former Governor Satyapal Malik. He came on his own volition, along with his supporters.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, who has been called by the CBI over an alleged insurance 'scam', and some Khap leaders held a protest at a police station here on Saturday after he was allegedly stopped from holding a meeting at a south Delhi park.
Rejecting reports that Mr. Malik had been detained, the police said the group did not have the requisite permission to hold the meeting at the MCD Park in R.K. Puram.
Haryana-based senior farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said the meeting was called by Mr. Malik and a group of Khap leaders, but nobody was scheduled to speak at the venue. "Where is violation of rules in this?" he asked.
Mr. Malik said he and his supporters had gone to the R.K. Puram police station to protest as he was stopped from giving food to Khap leaders at the park.
A police officer said the former Governor was informed that the park was not a place to hold a meeting and also that he had not taken a permission from the authorities concerned. After that, he and his supporters left the place and arrived at the R.K. Puram police station, the officer added.
The Delhi Police issued a statement, saying he had gone to the police station "of his own volition", refuting reports that Mr. Malik had been detained.
"We have not detained former Governor Satyapal Malik. He came on his own volition, along with his supporters, to the R.K. Puram police station and we have informed him that he can leave at his own will," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C. said in a statement.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.