PUCL condemns police action on OROP protesters

New Delhi: Delhi Police Friday drew flak from People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) over its attempts to evict agitating ex-servicemen demanding One Rank One Pension (OROP) from their protest site at Jantar Mantar, saying it amounted to adding "insult to injury".

The civil rights group condemned the turn of events and termed the alleged manhandling of ex-servicemen in the name of "security arrangements" as "shocking".

"It was shocking that even ex-servicemen who have been holding their sit-in dharnas for the last several weeks, were considered threat to security and were humiliated," a statement released by PUCL Delhi said.

The "conditions" imposed on the protesters by the police for continuing with the agitation "are adding insult to injury", it said.

The police said they tried to evict protesters from various outfits from Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital on the ground of security.

"As Delhi is on a high alert ahead of Independence Day so we are removing the protesters to ensure security," a senior police officer said.

"It is beyond comprehension as to how continuation of peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar becomes a security threat to the nation at a time when we are celebrating Independence Day," PUCL said.