India Gate to be cleaned up before arrival of Russian President

Delhi - The civic agencies are planning to clean up the area around India Gate before the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 24th for a one day visit.

Despite massive deployment of police and para-military personnel and barricading of major roads, protesters belonging to various student and social organizations managed to reach the war memorial at India Gate. The crowd saw mass protests against the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman. Some of the protesters indulged in violence and stone pelting. They also smashed the wind-screens and windows of several buses in the area. As reported, the lawns were littered with footwear and bags of protestors after police resorted to a cane charge to disperse the protesters. Banners and placards carried by the protestors were also strewn around. Government sources said that orders have been passed to the civic agency to clear the area by Monday morning. New Delhi Municipal Corporation ( NDMC) spokesperson Amit Prasad told IANS "We will clear away the stones and glass and paper lying on the roads early Monday morning." The work will be done along with workers of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as the area around Amar Jawan Jyoti falls under CPWD, he said.