Dragged, shoved to the ground and beaten: Delhi protest videos raise questions over police response

New Delhi: Groups of men allegedly chased, threatened and assaulted protesters in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Saturday, October 10, after police detained hundreds of demonstrators attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a planned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Videos of the alleged assaults, including attacks on women, triggered criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, with both parties questioning the police response.

Men allegedly chase and assault protesters in Connaught Place

According to The Hindu, a group of around 200 men gathered near Indira Chowk in Connaught Place shortly after police detained protesters trying to reach Jantar Mantar. The group raised slogans supporting the police action, shouted threats and allegedly assaulted some demonstrators.

Some members of the group reportedly identified themselves as belonging to Hanuman Sena Delhi. They were seen heckling and abusing protesters, chasing them along Connaught Place’s inner circle and engaging in physical confrontations.

The men also raised slogans against CJP supporters and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. One slogan called on Delhi Police to use batons against demonstrators, while another used a derogatory term for CJP supporters.

Videos show alleged assaults on women and other protesters

Videos circulating online showed groups of men allegedly attacking demonstrators in separate incidents.

In one video shared by the AAP and Congress, a young woman is seen being knocked to the ground and assaulted by a group of men. The footage prompted criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned how such an incident could occur in the presence of police personnel.

Another video showed a protester being chased along a road and assaulted by several men. The demonstrator appeared to sustain multiple injuries to his back before running away, while the group continued pursuing him for several metres. One of the alleged attackers appeared to be holding a metal knuckle.

The incidents reportedly took place near police personnel stationed around the entrance to Kharak Singh Marg. According to The Hindu, officers were visible nearby but did not appear to intervene in the confrontations shown in the footage.

The newspaper reported that, when asked why officers were not intervening, one police official said, “We are seeing what can be done.” Another official did not respond.

AAP and Congress question police response

The alleged assaults triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, which shared videos of the incidents on social media.

The Aam Aadmi Party tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and questioned who had given the men the right to attack young protesters. The party warned that the alleged actions could have political consequences for the Modi government.

The Congress also shared footage of the alleged assault on a woman and accused the BJP-led government of allowing a climate of intimidation. It alleged that the men attacked the woman while police personnel watched.

These statements represent the opposition parties’ allegations and criticism. The identities, affiliations and individual responsibility of those involved in the reported assaults would need to be established through verified evidence and any subsequent investigation.

Assault allegations emerge amid mass detentions

The confrontations occurred amid a major police operation ahead of the planned CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police detained hundreds of people attempting to reach the protest site on Saturday.

The reported assaults took place despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) being in force in the area.

According to The Hindu, calls had circulated on social media in the preceding days from individuals associated with right-wing groups threatening to reach Jantar Mantar with batons and confront CJP supporters.

Protesters also alleged that, in some instances, police personnel and members of the group pursued demonstrators together. These allegations have not been independently established in the available report.

CJP supporters vow to continue anti-CEC protest

The incidents came amid a protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP supporters said they intended to return and continue their demonstration.

The alleged assaults in Connaught Place added another point of contention to the dispute over the planned protest, which had already seen mass detentions and restrictions on gatherings in the capital.

Why the incidents have raised questions over policing

The reported confrontations have raised questions about the safety of protesters, police intervention during alleged violence and the enforcement of restrictions on public gatherings.

Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3). Authorities can impose lawful restrictions on public gatherings, but allegations of assault must be examined separately from the question of whether a demonstration was permitted.

The reported presence of police personnel near the incidents has also raised questions about whether officers took adequate steps to prevent or stop the alleged attacks. Establishing responsibility would require a review of the footage, police records, witness accounts and any investigation into the incidents.

The key issues now are whether those responsible for the alleged assaults are identified, whether the police explain their response and whether action is taken on the basis of verified evidence.