Jan Lokpal protest: Metro stations near PMs residence closed

New Delhi: Four metro stations near the Prime Minister’s official residence here were closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure following a call by Team Anna Hazare to people to hold a protest there.

The four stations — Udyog Bhawan, Race Course, Jor Bagh on Gurgaon Line and Khan Market on Badarpur corridor were closed at 3:00 pm.

“The metro stations were closed following orders from Delhi Police. The stations will be closed till further orders,” a DMRC spokesman said.

All the four Metro stations, which were shut down, are close to 7, Race Course Road, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

The move to close the stations follows Team Hazare’s call to people asking them to hold peaceful protests outside the Prime Minister’s residence at 5:00 pm demanding a strong Lokpal.

The decision was taken following apprehensions that the protesters from Ramlila Maidan could reach 7, RCR by Metro.

Around 80 people were detained on Sunday when they tried to hold a protest near the Prime Minister’s residence on the same issue.

Several people were detained near the high security area of Prime Minister’s residence as they gathered to hold an agitation demanding a strong Lokpal in line with Team Hazare’s call.

The protesters, who came in small groups, were stopped by police near the Prime Minister’s 7, Race Course Road residence and were taken into custody.

The protesters were bundled into DTC buses and were taken out from the high security area, police sources said.