Police probe conspiracy behind India Gate protest after seizing students’ phones

Delhi Police have seized the mobile phones of 22 students arrested during Sunday’s protest at India Gate and are now combing through conversations exchanged on a week-old WhatsApp group.

Investigators say they are probing what they believe may have been a coordinated “conspiracy” behind the violent clashes. Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU)on Wednesday denied the Delhi Police charge that it helped organise the anti-pollution protest at India Gate that has come under the scanner over alleged “pro-Maoist slogans”, calling the FIR’s claims “false” and “malicious”. Police sources said investigators immediately began checking the digital footprint of those held. “Since the students are in judicial custody, their phones have been taken into possession. We’ve started examining their social media groups,” the officer noted.

According to the police, members of organisations such as Himkhand and the Bhagat Singh ChhatraEktaManch were active in two WhatsApp groups, one of them created just last week and now a key focus of the investigation. With more than 340 participants, this group is suspected of being used to coordinate what police described as “illegal activities.” The confrontation unfolded when groups of mostly young demonstrators gathered to protest rising air pollution levels in the capital. Tensions escalated as officers attempted to disperse the crowd, claiming protesters had blocked a road and allegedly used chilli spray on police personnel.

On the other hand, the JNU students’ union said it has “repeatedly” informed the police that it was “neither the organiser nor a participant” at Sunday’s demonstration. The FIR dated November 23 states in Hindi: “It was known from social media and reliable sources that on November 23 at 4 pm, under the banner of Delhi Co-ordinate Committee for Clean Air, members of AISA, JNUSU, etc, will protest at India Gate.”

In a statement, the JNUSU said, “We have records of our communication to the Delhi Police that JNUSU is neither the organiser nor a participant in the programme. Despite repeated communication to Delhi, such acts of naming only raise suspicions about the intentions of the Delhi Police.” According to the FIR lodged in the matter, slogans such as Hidmaamarrahe, kitneHidmamaroge, harghar se Hidmaniklega, and Hidmajikolaal salaam were raised during the protest. It also said that officers issued “repeated warnings” asking protesters to leave the area since demonstrations are not permitted there.  Multiple videos circulating online have shown demonstrators purportedly shouting slogans praising the slain CPI (Maoist) commander, MadviHidma, prompting a police investigation.

The police said they have arrested at least 22 people for allegedly assaulting personnel, obstructing them, blocking roads and using pepper spray.

“India Gate is not a designated protest site. Protesters jumped barricades, blocked the C-Hexagon and refused to disperse,” a police officer said. JNUSU, meanwhile, has accused the police of “brutality and repression” and demanded action against officers who allegedly manhandled and assaulted students, along with the release of all detainees. Scientists for Society (SFS), one of the organisations that participated in the “Delhi against Clean Air” protest, claimed two organisations -- Himkhand and Bhagat Singh ChhatraEktaManch -- began raising slogans related to Hidma’s killing.

Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday claimed that a protest against poor air quality was used as a platform to glorify Hidma.