India Gate lawns closed after wrestlers plan sit-in

A day after the country's top wrestlers announced a plan to launch an indefinite hunger strike at India Gate, the Delhi police on Wednesday cordoned off the memorial and barred public entry to the lawns.

There was no formal announcement by the city police about the decision to bar the entry of the public. But early on Wednesday, the underpass leading to the India Gate lawns was blocked for pedestrian visitors but vehicles were allowed to pass on the roads running across the lawns. Policemen were also deployed at different points to ensure that people did not make their way to the lawns. "The grass was damaged in the recent rains. To help the grass grow, they needed to be left alone for a day or two without the public stomping it," the officer said.

"It is also a preventive measure by us to keep the wrestlers away from landing up here to protest," he finally said.