New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) “At around 4.30 pm, the crowd had swelled to 5000-6000 people,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jai Prakash said on Thursday, recounting the clashes at Jantar Mantar in which he was injured after allegedly being hit by a stone on the forehead.
“I was hit by a stone on my head. I was bleeding when my colleagues removed me from the protest site and rushed me to RML Hospital. There is a minor fracture on my head. Further treatment is underway,” Prakash told PTI, a day after the incident.
The ACP was among two senior police officers who sustained injuries in alleged stone-pelting by protesters during Wednesday’s demonstration near Sansad Marg, prompting Delhi Police to register an FIR and launch an investigation.
“For yesterday’s incident of violence at Sansad Marg where two young ACPs have suffered injuries, an FIR has been filed under relevant sections and further investigation into the matter is underway,” a senior police officer said.
Recounting the incident, Jai Prakash, posted in the Punjabi Bagh, said he had been deployed near Jantar Mantar from 7 am.
“The protesters were raising slogans against the government and police. At around 4.30 pm, the crowd had swelled to around 5,000 to 6,000 people. Around 500 protesters were trying to create a nuisance when we intervened to maintain law and order,” he said.
The officer said police personnel formed a human chain to stop protesters from advancing towards restricted areas, after which some protesters allegedly began pelting stones and hurling water bottles.
Another police officer said an ACP posted in Connaught Place also suffered injuries during the stone-pelting while regulating the crowd and was rushed to RML Hospital.
Police sources said multiple clashes broke out during the protest, forcing security personnel to fire tear gas to bring the situation under control.
At least two ACPs and four other police personnel were injured in the violence, police sources said, adding that all the injured officers are in stable condition.
The sources also alleged that several “anti-social” elements had entered the protest site and were involved in the violence despite repeated announcements by police urging demonstrators to maintain peace and not disturb law and order. PTI BM BM MDO MDO
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