A major confrontation broke out between protesters and security forces at Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, and Tolstoy Marg on Wednesday night. The situation escalated quickly as the crowd began attacking police personnel with stones and bottles, leading to significant injuries among the law enforcement officers. Among those hurt was ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat, who sustained injuries during the sudden surge of violence. Reports indicate that a total of 5 police personnel, including 2 ACPs and 2 Inspectors, were injured during the unrest.
Escalation of Violence and Injuries
The protest site at Jantar Mantar witnessed intense chaos as miscreants within the protesting group started pelting stones at the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police personnel. The Delhi Police confirmed that the attack resulted in injuries to 5 of their members. This group of injured personnel includes 2 ACPs, 2 Inspectors, and other police jawans. The atmosphere remains highly tense, and a massive police contingent has been deployed across the surrounding areas to prevent further escalation. ACP Vivek Bhagat was personally escorted to the RML Hospital by senior officers after being hit by stones and bottles thrown by the mob.
Use of Weapons and Police Response
The violence wasn't limited to stone-pelting, while information has surfaced that some miscreants were seen brandishing swords and khukris during the protest. The unrest began around 8:30 PM on Parliament Street when the crowd launched an attack on the police. According to sources, large stones were hurled at the police and RAF teams stationed at Tolstoy Marg. Some protesters even used sticks to attack the security forces. To bring the uncontrollable crowd under control, the police had to take action, which included firing 2 to 3 tear gas shells. While the situation was eventually brought under control, an investigation into the exact cause of the sudden violence is currently underway, while so far, there has been no official reaction from the CJP regarding these events.
Internet Suspension and Communication Patterns
Following the outbreak of violence, internet services were suspended in the affected areas to curb the spread of misinformation and coordinate further unrest. However, sources suggest that despite the internet shutdown, there has been a significant surge in messaging activity in the New Delhi area, particularly around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Tolstoy Marg, and Janpath. These locations have recorded the highest exchange of network connections and SMS messages. Authorities are investigating whether protesters at Jantar Mantar were sending instructions to individuals across New Delhi to incite further violence. Evidence pointing towards such a conspiracy has emerged, and the police are conducting a separate probe into this matter.
Political Reactions and Allegations
The incident has triggered a political storm in Delhi. Congress leader KC Venugopal accused the government of creating chaos by shutting down the internet around Jantar Mantar. He described the move as a direct attack on the freedom of expression, aimed at suppressing the voice of India's youth and hiding the alleged brutality of the Delhi Police. Venugopal issued a warning to PM Modi, stating that any wrong step taken to crush the youth's protest would prove disastrous and that the public would deliver a historic punishment. Meanwhile, leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party, including Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with JMM MP Mahua Maji, reached Jantar Mantar to join the CJP protest. They were seen interacting with Abhijeet Dipke at the site.
Current Situation at the Protest Site
As night fell, the number of protesters at Jantar Mantar continued to grow. Despite the darkness, the enthusiasm of the participants didn't wane, and a large number of people continued to arrive at the site to join the sit-in, while protesters have been raising slogans against the government, and the entire area is echoing with voices of dissent. The protest site has been turned into a virtual fortress, with heavy deployment of both Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain law and order. While the police state that the situation is currently normal and was disrupted by certain anarchic elements, they remain on high alert as the protest shows signs of continuing late into the night.