The Police this afternoon lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons this afternoon at India Gate at protesters agitating against the gang rape of a young girl. The protesters were trying to enter the Rajpath to march towards Rashtrapati Bhawan demanding speedy justice and stringent punishment for the accused in last Sunday night's incident. Later, they were allowed to proceed in a bid to ease traffic on the road. But when the agitators clashed with the police in their attempt to cross the barricades, police used water cannons.

Earlier in the morning, after being evacuated from Raisina Hills and Sonia Gandhi's residence, protestors assembled near the war memorial and resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders. They were forcibly removed from the spot.

A large number of police men are deployed and Raisina Hills and Rajpath are barricaded. Eight metro stations near India Gate and Raisina Hills are closed as part of police preparations to contain the agitation.

In the morning, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with a delegation of protesters and listened to their demands. The meeting was also attended by the Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Minister of State for Home Affairs, R. P.N Singh.

After the meeting, Mr. Singh told reporters said that government has heard the voices of the students and it will consider amendment in the law for more stringent punishment in rarest of rare cases of sexual assault. Mr. Singh said center will try to fast track the case and make sure maximum punishment to the culprits of the gang rape.

Mr. Singh also appealed to the people who are protesting against the rape incident to maintain peace. The delegation members said that Ms Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have assured fast and tough action in the incident. They also appealed the protesters to maintain calm.