Hzare's hometown protests his detention

People in social activist Anna Hazare's village in Ahmednagar district on Tuesday protested against his detention in Delhi by coming on to the streets along with their cattle and blocking the traffic.

The 73-year-old Gandhian, who was scheduled to hold a fast against corruption in J P Park in Delhi was detained by police early morning today.

As the news of Anna's detention spread, people in the village gathered at the traffic intersection and blocked the vehicular traffic, including some state transport buses.

"The entire village is observing a bandh today," Hazare's associate Datta Awari told PTI.

Youth and school students have also joined the protests, Awari added.

Member of Ralegan Siddhi gram panchayat Bheema Pote said that by detaining Anna, the government itself has acted against the constitutional rights of citizens.

Villagers have also decided to observe a fast today in protest of the detention, Pote said.

Hazare's supporters will also hold peaceful demonstration in front of the district collectorate in Ahmednagar city at 11 am today.

Protests in Pune over Hazare arrest

Supporters of Anna Hazare gathered in a city square to condemn the police action and his detention in Delhi this morning.

Carrying placards, scores of people raised slogans at Balgandharva square, supporting Hazare's anti-corruption campaign and condemning the government for "anti-democratic" measures.

The protesters took out a morcha through the streets before staging a noisy protest demonstration, in which, many youths and social activists participated.

Supporters hold protest against arrest in Lucknow

Lucknow, (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare's supporters organised meetings and staged demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh, protesting his detention in New Delhi this morning.

Shouting slogans against the UPA government, a number of social activists and common man held protest at Gandhi Statue in Hazratganj here.

Activists of India Against Corruption (IAC), joined by several teachers, lawyers and students staged a sit-in demonstration at Jhulelal park in the city.

"Why in a democratic country like us, an old aged person like Anna has been denied to hold agitation and that too against the burning issue of corruption...We stand by Anna and will do whatever is needed to root out corruption," said Pawan Upadhyay, a lawyer.

Similar demonstrations and hunger-strikes were reported from Gorakhpur, Gonda, Varanasi, Allahabad and others cities of the state.

Hazare was detained from an apartment in New Delhi this morning after police failed to persuade him to call off his plans to defy prohibitory orders and stage a protest at Jai Prakash Narain Park in the capital.

Besides Hazare, his close associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained.

The Gandhian had announced that he would launch his indefinite fast from today demanding withdrawal of the "weak" Lokpal Bill and introduce a strong legislation to fight corruption.

People protest arrest in Haryana, Punjab

Chandigarh, (PTI) People from all walks of life, including advocates and academicians, today took to streets at several places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana voicing their support to civil society members in their crusade against corruption.

In Chandigarh, several intersections and round abouts were blocked by people, including advocates, officials said here.

A long queue of stranded vehicles was seen on several roads in Chandigarh in the wake of blockades laid by people.

In Punjab and Haryana, people took to streets and raised slogans in favour of civil society members and also blocked traffic.

Braving inclement weather at some places in the twin states of Punjab and Haryana, the people sat at several roads blocking the traffic.

The protesters alleged that the arrest of Gandhian Anna Hazare and others is an "undemocratic step" of the UPA government.

Activists of an NGO 'Awaaz' raised slogans against the UPA government at sector 7 and 8 traffic junction.

At the rally ground in Chandigarh, another NGO 'India Against Corruption' decided to sit on hunger strike in support of the civil society members.

NGO's founder member Davinder Sharma told reporters that five people from the NGO would sit on relay hunger strike till the government comes out with a strong Lokpal bill.

"I don't feel that I am living in world's largest democracy," Shammy Choudhary, a law student with Punjab University, said.

Meanwhile, security has been enhanced in both the states and their joint capital Chandigarh in view of protests and to prevent any eventuality.

Crowds sweeling at Azad Maidan in Mumbai

Anna's supporters consisting of women, college students, senior citizens for ‘jail bharo’ andolan. Anna Hazare is being to Tihar Jail. Extending thier support to Anna, all the citizens will start leaving for the jail at 2.30pm.