Hundreds of police swooped on the Ramlila ground here just after midnight Saturday and forcibly removed Baba Ramdev after dispersing his restive supporters with tear gas and batons, ending a high-profile hunger strike against corruption he launched less than 24 hours earlier.

In an operation that was clearly meticulously planned, Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel desceneded on the protest venue in the heart of the capital taking by surprise both Ramdev and the mass of his sleeping supporters.