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Sainiks held for anti-Pope protest

Fifteen Shiv Sainiks were today arrested while holding black-flag demonstrations at Rajghat and Hyderabad House where Pope John Paul II met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this morning.

While six of them were arrested at Rajghat, nine were taken into custody at Hyderabad House.

A Shiv Sena spokesman said the police also used force to disperse the demonstrators, which the police denied. The spokesman said three of their workers were injured.

With today's arrests, the total number of Shiv Sainiks taken into custody by the police during the past three days has gone up to 52, the Sena spokesman added.

He said five Shiv Sainiks including their leaders Jai Bhagwan Goel, Rajinder Raja, Om Dutt Sharma and Dharminder Bittu were arrested on Thursday while 32 were nabbed yesterday. Those arrested today include Delhi Shiv Sena secretary Deepak Pawar.

UNI

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