Delhi Police personnel deployed to manage protests at Jantar Mantar have alleged that demonstrators assaulted them, tore uniforms and badges, and targeted women officers during clashes over the past three days. Police have begun action based on statements, video footage and medical reports, according to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR.
The reported incidents occurred while officers were attempting to stop protesters from crossing barricades during political demonstrations at the central Delhi protest site. Several police personnel said they were pulled into the crowd, pushed, punched and verbally abused while trying to maintain the security line.
Women police personnel alleged that some protesters dragged them towards the barricades after breaking through them. They said their clothes were pulled, nameplates and uniform badges were torn off, and they were struck with elbows and fists. The allegations were made by the affected personnel while recounting the incidents to the publication.
Two women officers who reportedly fell near the barricades alleged that members of the crowd dragged them on the ground and kicked them while they were unable to get up. They said they suffered injuries to their ribs, chest and head. The officers described the assault as an attempt to seriously harm them, while the report did not provide independent findings on the allegations.
A woman assistant commissioner of police deployed to supervise security said protesters appeared to identify senior officers through blue caps and uniform cords. She alleged that officers were deliberately targeted and subjected to abusive remarks about their families during duty. The report also said that one male police officer alleged that he was isolated by the crowd and suffered severe injuries to his hand.
The accounts underline the operational risks involved in policing large demonstrations in a fixed urban protest zone. Jantar Mantar is designated for public demonstrations, requiring police to manage competing demands: protecting the right to assemble, preventing marches beyond permitted areas, and maintaining access and safety around a dense central Delhi location. In the reported incidents, the immediate point of conflict was the enforcement of barricades.
Delhi Police has registered cases against leaders and activists under provisions relating to attempted murder and obstruction of government work, the report said. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other video recordings to identify those involved. The police action is expected to proceed alongside the review of medical reports and statements from the personnel who reported injuries.
The report did not specify the number of arrests, the identities of the accused or the precise legal sections applied in each case. Those details, along with the findings of the investigation and any response from the protest organisers, remain pending.
