AAP activists protest against Delhi Police

Aam Aadmi Party workers being water cannoned while crossing the barricades during a protest against Delhi Police in New Delhi.

Police sprayed water at hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists who staged a noisy protest here on Sunday against alleged police inaction over the brutal murder of a young woman.
Some 250 AAP members staged the demonstration near the Delhi Police headquarters in the heart of the city.
As some of them tried to break through a police cordon, the police sprayed water at them, effectively dispersing them, witnesses said.
The AAP was protesting against what it said was police inaction that led to the murder on Thursday of a young woman who was repeatedly stabbed by allegedly two neighbours after she objected to their verbal abuse. The woman had earlier complained against the assailants, saying they stalked her.
The AAP said the police needed to probe the issue without any political influence. "The only reason the girl died is due to police inaction," an AAP supporter said at the protest site. "Despite complaints from the girl, they didn't take the matter seriously. We now want the police to investigate the matter and take action against the killers."
Meenakshi, a Class 11 student, was murdered in central Delhi's Anand Parbat area. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday called on the victim's family and announced a compensation of Rs500,000 to her family.
The AAP leader also hit out at the police, saying they needed to report to the Delhi government. Delhi Police now reports only to the central home ministry.
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the case. The city government has also sought a report from Delhi Police.
"Delhi Police comes under the prime minister," Kejriwal said, referring to the home ministry's control over Delhi Police.
"Either they (central government) should devote time to improve the law and order situation in Delhi, or they should hand over Delhi Police to the state government."
Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to devote time to Delhi Police to discuss the law and order situation in the capital or else hand over its charge to the AAP government.
"The Delhi Police comes under the prime minister. He has no time for Delhi Police as he has to run the whole country. I request PM Modi to take out an hour every week to discuss law and order issues in Delhi or he should hand over Delhi Police to us, and we will set things straight," Kejriwal said after inaugurating an 'Aam Aadmi Clinic' at Peeragarhi in west Delhi.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said on Sunday that he will call on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday and discuss the brutal murder of a young woman in the capital. "I will meet Kejriwalji and the principal secretary over the issue," Bassi told the media.
"I will explain to them that we are trying our best to deal with the case, and there is no inaction on our part," he told reporters.

• India