VHP and Bajrang Dal members were detained by Delhi police during a protest on Tuesday over the demolition of a Hanuman temple at Chandni Chowk in Delhi by MCD.

The temple was demolished on Sunday by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in accordance with court orders as part of the ongoing Chandni Chowk beautification plan.

The protesters, carrying saffron flags and raising slogans, took out a march from the Gauri Shankar Mandir to the site where the temple earlier existed. They were halted by police at a barricade.

VHP spokesperson Mahendra Rawat claimed, around 15-20 workers and leaders, including its Delhi unit president Kapil Khanna, vice president Surendra Gupta, secretary Ravi, and Bajrang Dal state convener Bharar Batra were detained during today’s protest.

A senior police official said 27 protesters who gathered near the Gauri Shankar temple on Tuesday were detained owing to  COVID-19 protocols. They all were taken to a nearby police station and released later.

All protesters belonged to Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal outfits, the official said.

As a precautionary measure, security personnel has been deployed in the area for maintaining law and order situation.

DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.