New Delhi: The ongoing student protest at the capital’s Jantar Mantar—demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and protesting against alleged exam irregularities—turned violent late Wednesday night. After a peaceful day, a confrontation erupted between protesters and the police at night. As the situation deteriorated, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. According to the police, a large number of students were present on the road outside Jantar Mantar late at night. During this time, an altercation broke out between some passing police personnel and a few agitators. The dispute escalated quickly, and some youths chased and surrounded the police personnel.
To extricate themselves, the police resorted to a lathi-charge, which further heightened tensions. ACP Vivek Bhagat was injured during the clash and was immediately admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Upon seeing the situation spiraling out of control, a large contingent of Delhi Police and RAF personnel arrived at the scene. Police alleged that some aggressive protesters attempted to snatch batons from the security personnel. Subsequently, tear gas shells were fired to control the crowd and push the protesters back.
Earlier in the day, the crowd of protesters at Jantar Mantar had been steadily growing. Hundreds of students and citizens from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh had arrived in Delhi. By afternoon, the situation had reached a point where many protesters were seen climbing trees and waving flags. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an impartial inquiry into alleged irregularities in the examination system. The movement saw participation from a diverse group, ranging from school students to the elderly and working professionals. The late-night violence at Jantar Mantar has marked a turning point in the agitation; the protest is no longer limited to issues of recruitment and examinations but appears to be evolving into a matter of law and order and political confrontation.
