Delhi Police on Friday detained a total of 335 protesters including 65 MPs of the Congress after they were denied permission for holding a protest against price rise and GST on food items in the national Capital, citing prohibitory orders and the law and order situation in the city.

According to Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, the Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, on Friday the functionaries and supporters of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) organised a protest in the New Delhi area. “Adequate police arrangements were put in place to maintain law and order and avert any untoward incident in the wake of the ongoing Parliament Session and forthcoming Independence Day. Orders under section 144 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are also in force prohibiting large gatherings in New Delhi district,” said the Special CP.

“The protests were held at various sites of New Delhi district including Akbar Road, Vijay Chowk and Jantar Mantar. The protesters were appropriately warned about the prohibitory orders in force in the area and repeatedly requested to disperse from the area,” said the Special CP.

“However, they continued the protest, thereby violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC. When the police personnel moved in to contain the situation, the protesters tried to obstruct the police officers from performing their duties, manhandled and injured them. Appropriate legal action is being taken into the matter,” said Dr Hooda.

“Total 335 protesters including 65 MPs have been detained under 65 Delhi Police Act in order to maintain law & order in the area. Intimation about detention of MPs and MLAs is being sent to the respective competent authorities,” the Special CP added.

The detained leaders also include Members of the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had denied permission to the Congress for holding a protest in the national Capital on Friday. The Congress had planned a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and the GST hike on essential items on August 5.

According to a senior official, the Delhi Police, in a letter to AICC, General Secretary K C Venugopal, refused permission to the party for holding the protest, citing that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in New Delhi district.