‘Inspired by Nepal’s GenZ protests’: 4 Youth Congress workers sent to 5day custody for topless protest

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday granted police 5-day custody of the 4 Youth Congress workers who carried out a shirtless march in the Bharat Mandapam during the AI summit.

While seeking remand, Delhi Police said that the accused had staged a protest similar to the protest in Nepal, claiming that it was a conspiracy to defame the country internationally.

The public prosecutor told the court that the accused raised anti-national slogans while protesting against the India-US trade deal and wore T-shirts with messages against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When being asked why the police wants 5-day custody of the accused, the investigating officer stated that there is a deep conspiracy, that other accused fled the scene, and that custody is needed for a proper investigation.

Police added that three policemen were injured and accuseds mobile phones need to be recovered to verify whether they received funding. Four people from four different locations came together and printed T-shirts.

Meanwhile, the lawyer for the accused submitted that they were being targeted because they belong to opposition party. The lawyer also alleged that accused and protests are taking place everywhere.

The lawyer added that political dissent shouldnt be crushed like this.

Following the protest, Delhi Police initially detained around 10 IYC workers.

The Indian Youth Congress on Friday staged a protest with around 15 people entering the lobby area of Hall No. 5, and raising slogans after removing T-shirts worn under shirts, ACP (New Delhi), Devesh Mahla, said.

“The four arrested accused will be produced before the Patiala House Court; an FIR is being registered, in which several serious charges are being invoked,” another police officer said.

The accused allegedly engaged in a protracted scuffle with security personnel and police staff deployed at the venue, officials said.

Investigators are examining whether there was any larger conspiracy behind the incident.

The protesters allegedly registered online to obtain QR codes to enter the venue, the Bharat Mandapam, before staging the protest inside Hall No 5, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

A few protesters got into heated arguments with some of the attendees before being whisked away by the security personnel.

The sources claimed the protesters also manhandled some police officers on duty, which is likely to invoke non-bailable sections.

The accused had initially planned to paste printed stickers on black umbrellas and sneak them into the Bharat Mandapam, the sources said.

“However, they later felt that the black umbrellas might draw the attention of the security personnel manning the gates, so they changed their plan and got the printed stickers placed on T-shirts instead, a source said.

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