Left MPs March to Jantar Mantar Against Police Action on Protesters

New Delhi: Left Members of Parliament marched to Jantar Mantar in protest against the physical assault by the Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces on students who had marched to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak.

The protest was led by Left MPs including Amra Ram, K. Radhakrishnan, John Brittas, A.A. Rahim, R. Sachithanantham, Su Venkatesan, P.P. Suneer, P. Santhosh Kumar, K. Subbarayan, V. Selvaraj and Jose K. Mani. They carried placards displaying images of the alleged police violence during the demonstration.

The protest came a day after the national capital witnessed one of the largest public mobilisations in decades. Repeated lathi-charge and the use of tear gas by the police turned Jantar Mantar and its surrounding areas into conflict zones as authorities attempted to stop multiple marches heading towards Parliament.

The march began around 10.30 am, after which police resorted to repeated baton charges. All Parliament gates were closed and personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in large numbers to prevent demonstrators from advancing.

Police personnel carried out baton charges at Jantar Mantar, Kerala House, Parliament gates, Tolstoy Road, Sansad Marg, Raisina Road, Ashoka Road, Feroz Shah Road, the Press Club, Vijay Chowk and Patel Chowk.

Male police personnel physically assaulted female students, including dragging some by their hair. More than 50 people reportedly sustained serious head injuries, while several others were allegedly denied immediate medical assistance after collapsing. Moreover, those who were bleeding were assaulted inside police vans, and that many suffered fractures, including around 20 SFI activists who sustained broken arms.

Hundreds of people, including minors, were injured during the police action, and several demonstrators were arrested. Actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi were confronted by security personnel during the protest, while Geetanjali Angmo, the wife of Sonam Wangchuk, was also assaulted. Protest tents at Jantar Mantar were also dismantled.

The organisers said around 70 protesters remain in police custody and claimed that the incident has triggered widespread protests against the Central government across the country.