Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel used baton charges to disperse Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters on Monday [1].
The clash marks a significant escalation in the 'Chalo Sansad' march, as protesters attempted to breach security perimeters in the heart of India's capital. The confrontation highlights the ongoing tension between political activists and security forces regarding the right to protest near government installations.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. [1] near Parliament Street and Kerala Bhawan. Security forces intervened after protesters attempted to push through barricades to reach the area near Parliament [2]. Reports indicate that the situation turned violent, with some accounts citing stone pelting during the confrontation [3].
Crowd size estimates vary between reports. Some sources describe the group as consisting of thousands of protesters [1], while other estimates place the crowd size at 15,000 people [2]. The unrest extended across several key locations, including Mandi House, Janpath, Sansad Marg, and Jantar Mantar [2].
The CJP organized the event as part of the 'Chalo Sansad' movement [3]. Police used lathicharges, a traditional baton charge, to push the crowds back from the restricted zones. The Rapid Action Force was deployed to assist local police in maintaining the barricades and managing the crowd [2].
No official casualty figures were provided in the immediate reports, though the use of force was widespread as police sought to prevent the breach of the security cordons [1].
“Police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse CJP protesters attempting to breach barricades.”
The use of force during the 'Chalo Sansad' march underscores the stringent security protocols maintained around India's parliamentary zone. By deploying the Rapid Action Force and utilizing baton charges, the state demonstrates a low tolerance for unauthorized breaches of security barricades, even during organized political demonstrations.
