New Delhi: A day after the Delhi Police lathicharged protesters and fired tear gas to prevent their march to Parliament, anger against the force was palpable at the Jantar Mantar protest site, with the air rent by slogans against police “brutality” and demands for accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Tuesday, hours after the police had removed protesters from Jantar Mantar, several protesters from across the city walked towards Jantar Mantar’s protest site.
“Yesterday, we all came together because we wanted Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and accountability from the PM. Today, we are here to show that no amount of police brutality can dampen our spirits,” said 21-year-old Keshav, a law student from Uttar Pradesh.
At the protest site, the streets were teeming with people. One voice rang out in slogans against the Delhi Police, while another blamed the Modi government for using the force against peaceful student protesters.
The protesters have rebuilt a tent at Jantar Mantar.
Several students near the stage had their hands in plasters, saying they had suffered fractures during Monday’s police lathicharge. “The return of the protesters to Jantar Mantar is testament to their fearlessness against goonda raj,” said Arpita Singh, an aspirant of state civil services examination.
She said she was injured in the lathicharge, but joined the protest today to show that students can no longer be suppressed.
Anjali, an undergraduate student from Rajasthan, said she was hit by tear-gas shells four times. “They (police) barricaded us from one side and charged at us from the other side. Today, I have come back to seek accountability from the PM for this brute use of power,” she said.
Meanwhile, the 10-foot barricades were removed from the roads leading to Jantar Mantar. However, a minor scuffle broke out between police and protesters in the evening after the Delhi Police barricaded the Sansad Marg and refused protesters carrying water containers to move towards the Jantar Mantar from that side.
“They are again barricading, moving their anti-riot vehicles so that as soon as the sun sets they can lathicharge us,” said Anees, a protester from Kerala.
Following the sloganeering against the Delhi Police, a small path was carved out between the barricades. Protesters passed through it to the other side carrying water, while raising slogans against the police loudly.
Minutes after the police completely barricaded the Sansad Marg again, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, announced that all the spokespersons would hold a dharna against the Delhi Police in front of Delhi Police Head Quarters at Jai Singh.
The Delhi Police has said they handled the protests on Monday “professionally”.
“Some segments from the media have mentioned sporadic use of violence/detentions at Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police. It is informed that no such incident has taken place and protest is being handled professionally. All are requested not to fall pray to any rumour/ misgivings, and, to assist Delhi Police in maintaining peace and public order at and around the site,” it said in an X post Monday.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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