Indian police ban rape protests in central New Delhi

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian police on Sunday banned protests in central New Delhi following a wave of violent demonstrations over the savage gang-rape of a medical student a week ago, an official statement said.

Areas close to the President’s residence and the Parliament have been declared off-limits to protesters, it said, a day after police tear-gassed, baton-charged and fired water cannon at demonstrators.

Thousands of protesters, most of them college students, rallied at the India Gate monument in the heart of the Indian capital on Saturday, demanding the death penalty for the accused and better safety for women.

Early on Sunday morning, police cordoned off all the routes leading to landmark government buildings and said they had detained a group of protesters citing the prohibitory orders.