Police release Rahul Gandhi, other leaders hours after detention from outside Modi’s residence

Rahul Gandhi and opposition MPs were released late on Tuesday night after being forcibly dragged away by Delhi Police from outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

Rahul was leading a sit-in by opposition MPs demanding the resignations of Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the police action against student protesters, Indian media reports.

Meanwhile, protesters continued to pour into Connaught Place in huge numbers as police took up positions on Sansad Marg.

Visuals from the ground showed police forcibly removing opposition MPs and herding them into buses. Several MPs alleged they were assaulted by the police.

In one video, Gandhi is seen lying on the ground, resisting arrest by the police, while the CRPF personnel assigned to protect him stand by. He can be heard shouting, “This is democracy in India right now.”

He was soon carried away by several Delhi Police personnel and was later seen with a nosebleed.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge was handcuffed and escorted away, while Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen resisting being pushed into a police van by police personnel.

Rahul Gandhi was initially taken to Chhatrasal Stadium following his detention. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi later reached Mandir Marg Police Station, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other MPs had been brought by the Delhi Police.

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Rahul, Priyanka detained from protest site near Modi's residence

She subsequently left the police station after meeting them.

Meanwhile, protesters continued to pour into Connaught Place, a day after police used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse demonstrators off Sansad Marg.

Several visuals from the ground late on Tuesday evening showed thousands of people assembled in the area. Police were also seen taking up positions on Sansad Marg.