I'm Not A Criminal, Says Swati Maliwal, DCW Chief, Claims Police Stopping Her From Fast Unto Death

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal alleged on Tuesday that police did not allow her to start an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. “Police are saying they have orders from the above to not let us sit on hunger strike. I'm not a criminal, it is unfortunate that Delhi police is not cooperating,” news agency ANI quoted Swati as saying. She was supposed to start her hunger strike on Tuesday morning against the recent incidents of rape. However, she said police placed barricades and did not allow tents to be placed there.

The Delhi police, however, said that they have not rejected the demand of holding the protest.

Seeking to clarify the matter, police said a letter was sent to the DCW for obtaining details of the protest, mode of transport, microphone arrangements and the number of protesters supposed to take part in it, with a copy of an undertaking to be filled according to the Supreme Court guidelines.

The details regarding it is awaited, they said.

On Monday, the Cyberabad Police probing the gang-rape and murder of a 25-year-old woman veterinarian near here moved a court on Monday seeking custody of the four people arrested in connection with the heinous crime for interrogation. The petition was filed in a court in Mahabubnagar district for custodial interrogation as part of further investigation in the case, a senior police official said.

The four had allegedly raped the woman, who worked as an assistant veterinarian at a state-run hospital, and burnt her alive on November 27 with the grisly crime coming to light the next day when her charred body was found.

The four men, all lorry workers, aged between 20 and 24, were arrested on November 29 and are lodged in the Cherlapally Central Prison after a court remanded them to 14 days judicial custody.