Gangrape protests: Kejriwal says police framing AAP for constable's death

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party National convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday hit out at the government and the Delhi Police saying he was being framed for the death of constable Subhash Tomar during clashes at anti-rape protests at India Gate. Kejriwal said, "There is not a single proof that the government has and they are only framing these youths. Police is trying to frame me, Baba Ramdev, General VK Singh. Are they taking some revenge from us?"

He said while the guilty must be punished, if any of these eight youths are innocent and there's no proof against them, he'll stand by them. "If any of those eight including AAP worker Chaman are responsible for the death of constable, we want them to punished. But if police are framing them, they have no evidence against these eight youths, we'll stand by them," Kejriwal said.

AAP member Manish Sisodia also claimed that he had had not asked for bail for all the eight arrested in the case, but only the AAP worker. He also claimed that the Delhi Police had no evidence against the eight accused who were arrested on Monday. "Court asked police who pelted stone, who beat up that cop, police had no answers, the officials said they haven't seen these people doing anything. Court asked why has the FIR been registered. We don't understand why cases are being registered against these eight youths," Sisodia said.

Kejriwal said that his party workers tried to stop those inciting violence during the protests on Sunday. "Some unruly elements were present at the protests and we stopped those who created violence at India Gate. Police have failed in identifying those unruly elements at India Gate," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is under scrutiny over the death of the Delhi Police constable Subhash Tomar, who died after being injured in violent anti-rape protests at India Gate. The Delhi Police had arrested eight people for the attack on Tomar after identifying the people from the video footage.

One Aam Aadmi party worker, Chaman Kumar, was also arrested. The eight are now out on bail. AAP member Manish Sisodia had sought bail for all eight arrested. The police have now booked them for murder and riot.

Subhash Tomar, who was injured in Sunday's clashes, died at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday morning. Tomar was seriously injured after protests at India Gate turned violent and police lathicharged the agitators, some of whom also pelted stones at policemen.

His family blamed the public for his death. His son Deepak said, "No politician came to visit my father in the past three days. Its the public which is responsible. My father was brutally beaten while doing his duty. Can they bring back my father?" "It's the mob which is responsible for my brother's death," said his cousin Yudhveer Singh.

The Delhi Police had on Monday filed four cases with regard to the violence during the protests. One of these cases was filed against former Army chief General VK Singh and yoga guru Ramdev. Both Singh and Ramdev have been booked by the Delhi Police on charges of rioting and causing damage to public property.

During the clashes at the protests at India gate on Sunday, over 140 people were injured. Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar had said that at least 65 Delhi Police officials were injured in the clashes with protesters.