Delhi protest turns violent: two police personnel hurt in stone pelting, protesters allege lathi charge

The protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar turned violent on Saturday as protesters pelted stones near Akashwani Bhawan, injuring two police personnel, while demonstrators across central Delhi alleged police used force that left several of them injured.

Stone pelting near Akashwani Bhawan

Around noon, 25 to 30 protesters jumped barricades on Imtiaz Ali Marg and pelted stones at security personnel, officials said. Two police personnel were injured and some protesters were detained, news agency PTI reported.

The injured personnel were identified as Suman and Dheeraj Yadav. One of them is a member of the all-women Pink Force. They sustained injuries near the Kartavya Path police station and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A separate incident of stone pelting was reported near Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, where a police official suffered an elbow injury. Stones were also pelted at a police bus during the day.

Protesters vandalised a Delhi Police bus at Dilli Haat amid the crackdown, according to News18.

Protesters allege lathi charge

Several protesters were injured at Dilli Haat, including some who sustained head injuries, news outlet Maktoob reported, saying Delhi Police allegedly used force against demonstrators during the crackdown on the Jantar Mantar protest.

A protester at Ajmeri Gate alleged that several people were injured during police action there as well.

Journalist Sreenivasan Jain posted a video that he said showed protesters being beaten by police inside a detention bus. He wrote that when he confronted the police, an officer suggested he too should be detained.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat was manhandled by Delhi Police, journalist Sushant Singh said on X. Police attempted to detain protesters near the INA Metro station, where demonstrators lay on the ground, according to a post by Hemant Rajaura.

Journalist Smita Sharma said people were dragged away and detained even while standing away from the crowds without sloganeering. Aishe Ghosh, a student leader, said police were not wearing name tags and were not following rules.

A video circulated on social media during the day showed a woman being pulled to the ground and beaten by a group of men, with the person who shared the video claiming the assault happened in front of Delhi Police. The Pioneer could not independently verify the video or the identity of those involved.

Volunteers coordinating medical help said on a messaging group that an elderly activist had suffered a hand injury and another protester had sustained a fractured finger during the police action. These accounts could not be independently confirmed.

Detentions and restrictions

Delhi Police detained more than 3,000 people through the day as protesters attempted to reach Jantar Mantar, according to multiple news reports. The figure stood at about 500 by early afternoon and rose through the day.

Mobile internet was suspended in parts of central Delhi, and entry and exit were closed at 45 metro stations. More than 250 trains were cancelled till 2 pm.

The Cockroach Janta Party and student groups including AISA, SFI and AISF had called the protest to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police denied permission for the demonstration.

(With inputs from PTI)