Delhi Police Deny Using Excessive Force On Jantar Mantar Protesters, Cite 30,000 Crowd And Violence

The Delhi Police has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court denying allegations of excessive force against student protesters during the July 20 Jantar Mantar demonstration, claiming the deployment of graded force was necessary after a crowd of over 30,000 breached barricades and turned violent.

The common affidavit was submitted in response to four connected petitions seeking a Supreme Court-monitored probe into alleged police excesses during the agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against the NEET paper leak.

30,000 protesters and 240 injured officers

According to the police submission, around 5,000 personnel were deployed to manage the demonstration, which stretched across three kilometres. Police stated that while the gathering was initially peaceful, it deteriorated rapidly once barricades were breached.

• Over 240 police personnel and around 200 protesters sustained injuries during the violent clashes.
• Police claimed anti-social elements and history-sheeters infiltrated the gathering, escalating the confrontation.
• Graded force was used to prevent the protest from spilling over into surrounding areas of the capital.

Allegations of pellet gun use denied

Medical records accessed reportedly showed a 25-year-old protester suffered around 20 pellet injuries on his back and elbow, while another protester sustained a serious eye injury.

Rebuffing allegations of excessive force, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju questioned the claims in an interview with a news agency, noting that pellet guns contain multiple pellets and would have injured far more people in a crowd of thousands if they had been fired.

36-day agitation ends

The violent July 20 clashes occurred amidst a 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak. The protest disrupted Parliament’s Monsoon Session, which was adjourned sine die on August 13 following demands from the Opposition for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The CJP eventually called off the agitation on July 25 after holding talks with the government and securing the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.