HYDERABAD: More than 20,000 people gathered on the Tank Bund yesterday as part of the Million March while a mob of nearly 1,000 persons affiliated to the Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) were responsible for the attack on policemen and setting fire to some buildings on the lower Tank Bund, police said.
Director general of police K Aravinda Rao said that the gathering of people on the Tank Bund and the incidents that took place thereafter were in violation of prohibitory orders and appropriate action would be taken against those involved in the incidents.
Aravinda Rao, in a release, said about 20,000 people representing various organisations gathered on the Tank Bund from various routes.
``As the crowd was heterogeneous, there was no unified command or uniform policy and hence some activists damaged some of the statues installed on the Tank Bund,’’ he said. Police used utmost restraint in preventing the crowd from congregating on the Tank Bund, he added.
Police did not use force on the crowd but still they indulged in some unlawful activities like attacking the police and media vehicles.
``Cases are being registered and legal action will be taken against them,’’ the DGP said.
The mob also manhandled Congress MPs K Keshava Rao and Madhu Yashki and they were whisked away by the police from the venue.
One ACP and seven policemen were injured in stonepelting by the agitators.
``After the JAC leaders left the venue at about 5 p.m., a splinter group of about 1,000 persons belonging to the IFTU remained on Tank Bund and surged towards police and indulged in heavy stone-pelting. Police dispersed the group by lobbing tear gar shells. The groups attacked some establishments including Dwcra building on Lower Tank Bund road and set it on fire,’’ Aravinda Rao said.