Several Delhi Police personnel, including two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), two inspectors and another policeman, were injured after protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) clashed with security forces near Jantar Mantar on Wednesday evening, prompting the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and police to use limited force and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
In an official statement, Delhi Police said the violence broke out at around 8.30 pm near Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place, where “some miscreants attacked the police with stones and bottles”, injuring ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat. Senior officers shifted him to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital for treatment. “The situation remained tense for a few minutes, but peace has now been restored,” the police said.
According to police sources, protesters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar moved towards Tolstoy Marg, where the demonstration turned violent. The crowd allegedly hurled stones and bottles at Delhi Police and RAF personnel deployed in the area.
Officials said security personnel initially tried to persuade the protesters to disperse peacefully. Police also called CJP leaders and organisers to the spot and asked them to appeal to the crowd to maintain calm, but the protesters allegedly ignored even the appeals of their own organisers.
As the violence escalated, security personnel came under a barrage of large stones. Police claimed some protesters were carrying sticks, while others brandished swords and khukhris during the clashes. The RAF and Delhi Police then resorted to limited force and fired two to three tear gas shells before clearing the area.
POLICE CLAIM MOB TRIED TO LYNCH OFFICER
Officials further claimed that this was the third consecutive day of clashes between protesters and security personnel. According to police inputs, anti-social elements have been joining the gathering during the evening hours, escalating tensions and creating disturbances.
Police also alleged that the violent crowd attempted to lynch a policeman, surrounding him from all sides and repeatedly assaulting him. During the attack, members of the crowd allegedly abused the officer and shouted provocative slogans to incite others to join the assault.
In response to the violence, the RAF and Delhi Police resorted to limited use of force and fired two to three tear gas shells before clearing the area. Officials said the situation has since been brought under control, though heavy security remains deployed around Jantar Mantar and adjoining roads.
CJP DEMANDS TALKS AT NEUTRAL VENUE
The violence came even as the Cockroach Janta Party reiterated that it would hold talks with the Centre only at a neutral venue and not at the residence or office of any Union minister.
Addressing reporters at Jantar Mantar earlier in the day, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said police had informed the party that Union Minister JP Nadda wanted to hold discussions at his residence. The CJP rejected the offer, saying ministers should meet protesters among the people, but added it remained open to dialogue at a neutral venue near the protest site if security concerns existed.
The party also said it would seek a sovereign guarantee from the government that no fresh FIRs or punitive action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the agitation.
PROTEST ENTERS NEW PHASE
The agitation at Jantar Mantar began on June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities. The protest later gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement and began an indefinite hunger strike in support of the students’ demands.
While the CJP has appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, he has maintained that he will do so only after the government gives an unequivocal assurance that no retaliatory action will be taken against protesters.
The movement has also spread beyond Delhi, with demonstrations reported in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In Patna, police used tear gas, water cannons and lathicharge to stop protesters marching towards the governor’s residence, while similar solidarity protests were held in several other states.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on petitions alleging excessive use of force against protesters and directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage and other records related to the police action. The Supreme Court, however, declined an urgent hearing on a plea challenging the police action.
– Ends
With agency inputs
Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Jul 22, 2026 21:43 IST
