CJP march: Delhi Police, students trade blame on violence
Delhi Police faced criticism after several videos of protesters alleging excessive action against them surfaced on social media a day after the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Sansad Chalo’ march.
However, some videos also appeared to show police personnel being attacked by demonstrators.
A woman protester, an UPSC aspirant, said the police action had left her disillusioned.
“I am preparing for UPSC, but after seeing the police, I no longer feel like continuing. How will I survive among them when they behave like this with students?” she said.
Another protester, breaking down in tears, said, “We are not criminals. We are here demanding a better education system. Who treats human beings like this?”
In another video, a protester alleged that a tear gas shell exploded near his feet. “Are we terrorists or what? Why is such action being taken against us? The police are supposed to help us,” he said.
A protester with an injured leg alleged that the Government had failed to address their concerns. “Had the government shown even 20 per cent accountability, we would not have been protesting. Because of their incompetence, we are facing such brutality,” he said.
One purported video also appeared to show a police official from the northeast district slapping a young woman protester.
Meanwhile, other videos showed police personnel being attacked during the clashes.
In one clip, an officer trying to stop protesters in Connaught Place fell during a scuffle, after which some protesters allegedly pulled his hair and attacked him. Another video showed a protester pulling off a police personnel’s helmet during an argument.
According to Delhi Police, more than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, were injured and over 60 protesters sustained injuries after the CJP’s protest march to Parliament, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged examination irregularities, turned violent in the New Delhi area on Monday.
In a statement, Delhi Police alleged that protesters displayed “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour,” attacked security personnel, and damaged Government vehicles and public property.
