Dubai: A peaceful march in support of Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, on Saturday night at the Al Mamzar park, was dispersed by the police and the organisers was taken into custody for investigation.
The walk was organised by a Sharjah resident, through facebook, to express solidarity to Hazare, who is fasting since six days in an attempt to convince the government to strengthen a draft anti-corruption law.
RD an Indian, was questioned by the Dubai Police, after dispersing the crowd gathered at the park, an Indian Consulate official confirmed yesterday.
RDis a professional runner and was one among those who took part in a 10km run to mark India’s 65th Independence last Sunday.
He invited the public to join him on a 3 kilometre walk with walk with family and friends in support of India’s fight against corruption. “Support the crusader who has taken this fight against mighty and corrupt officials for the benefit of the Nation,” he wrote on the facebook page.
“At 8.30pm start walking towards South (Al Nahda side) by the beach for about 1.5km until you’re guided to return back to the parking lot.”
“Try not to be loud and avoid attracting unnecessary attention.”
R.D also wrote on the page that: “Peace remains essence of this event.”
It is understood that at least 50 to 75 people turned up for the event.
Yesterday afternoon, his wife appealed to the participants, through R.D’s facebook page, not to upload pictures of the event.
One of the participants said: “We were stopped by the police after about 1 kilometer. A police car came and requested the crowd to disperse.”
“We all respect the laws of the UAE and will not do anything against the law. I think he just didn’t know that the response to the event would be so overwhelming and so many of us would turn up,” one of R.D’s friends posted on his wall.
The Indian Consulate had no prior knowledge about the event, officials said.
