118 cops injured, 70 protesters detained: What Delhi Police said at Monday’s CJP march to Parliament | Today’s news

More than 118 policemen, including several senior officers, were injured and around 70 protesters were detained during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Sansad Chalo protest march in central Delhi on Monday, police said.

The Delhi Police issued a statement citing the figures and their account, accusing the protesters of “undisciplined, aggressive and violent behaviour” during the protest and of attacking security personnel, damaging government vehicles and public property.

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“During the CJP protest in the New Delhi area, the protesters exhibited unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour. Despite repeated warnings and legal instructions issued by the police, they refused to disperse and deliberately violated the bans in force,” the police statement said.

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The CJP’s protest march was aimed at demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged leaks of NEET papers and other irregularities in the examination system.

Delhi Police deployed a heavy security presence, using barricades to stop the protesters and resorting to the use of tear gas and lathis to quell the riots when the protesters tried to break through the barricades.

Injuries sustained by police officers were attributed to violent clashes with protesters who allegedly displayed aggressive behavior including throwing stones and attempting to breach barricades.

The CJP representatives sought commitments for the resignation of the education minister, discussions on education issues during the monsoon session and measures responding to their demands regarding the NEET paper leak.

About 70 protesters were detained and the Delhi Police initiated legal proceedings under various laws for offenses such as rioting and assaulting government employees.

Chaos gripped the national capital on Monday as students took to the streets for a CJP march towards Parliament, with several confrontations between protesters and police in central Delhi.

CJP, a fledgling organization born out of an online campaign, has called for a protest march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament to seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leaks and other examination irregularities. The CJP started its protest at Jantar Mantar on June 20.

Monday’s march call had the support of many opposition party leaders and climate activists Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the CJP on hunger strike on 28 June. Wangchuk was moved by plainclothes Delhi Police Safdarjung Hospital in South Delhi.

In the afternoon, as the protesters moved towards the Parliament, the Delhi Police stopped them at several places using several layers of barricades. However, thousands of CJP supporters marched to parliament despite canes and teargas to demand his resignation Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leaks.

CJP alleges police excesses

The CJP accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against the protesters during their march, claiming that several students were injured and Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, was pushed around as the outfit continued their sit-in protest near Kerala House after the police dismantled the stage at Jantar Mantar.

However, police dismissed the allegation that Angmo was assaulted as “completely false and misleading”. They claimed that “no individuals were targeted”.

“The police were absolutely brutal. Many of the students protesting here had their skulls smashed. Even a 15-year-old girl was brutally beaten by a policeman. The policeman even tried to grab Sonam Wangchuk’s wife by her hair, Gitanjali Angmo. They even tried to bat her and take her off the pace,” claimed Dipke.

118 police officers were injured

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Delhi Police said the protesters pelted police personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to breach police barricades, vandalized police and other government vehicles, damaged public property and resorted to widespread violence, posing a serious threat to public order, security measures in place and the safety of police personnel performing their statutory duties.

The statement said more than 118 policemen were injured in the violence, including senior officers in the ranks of Special Commissioner of Police, Joint Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police, besides several women police personnel.

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“Around 60 protesters were also reported injured during the clash. The medico-legal examination (MLC) of the remaining injured police officers is underway,” the statement said, adding that the violent mob also caused extensive damage to public property.

“The violent mob also caused extensive damage to public property. Around 15 to 20 government vehicles along with other government property were vandalized in the incident,” it added.

70 protesters detained

Police said about 70 protesters were detained and legal proceedings were initiated.

“Around 70 protesters have been detained. Appropriate legal action is being initiated and an FIR is being registered under relevant provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws for rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property and other offenses committed during the protest,” the statement said.

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The Delhi Police reiterated its commitment to maintain law and order and said that strict action will be taken against all persons involved in illegal and violent activities.

Protest to continue

CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met Union Minister JP Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands, including Wangchuk’s unconditional release, Pradhan’s resignation and ₹1 million compensation to the families of students who allegedly committed suicide after the NEET paper was leaked.

Despite repeated warnings and legal instructions from the police, they refused to part.

Nadda said the government would look into the demands but stopped short of offering any commitment, the CJP said. Later, CJP leaders said they were disappointed not to hear back from the government on its demands.

Finally, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Gitanjali Angmo said the protest would continue until the government addresses the group’s demands.