Delhi air pollution protest turns violent as demonstrators use pepper spray on police
New Delhi: A protest against Delhi-NCR’s worsening air pollution escalated on Sunday after a group of demonstrators allegedly used pepper spray on police personnel near India Gate, officials said.
According to police, three to four officers sustained injuries after being targeted with chilli spray while attempting to disperse the crowd. The injured personnel have been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital for treatment.
The demonstrators had gathered at India Gate demanding urgent government action on Delhi’s “very poor” air quality levels. Police stepped in to remove the group after they moved towards the C-Hexagon area, where barricades had been placed to regulate traffic.
A senior officer said the protesters ignored repeated requests to clear the road, adding that several ambulances and medical teams were stuck behind them. “They tried to cross the barricades. When we explained the emergency situation, they became aggressive,” the officer said.
Police sensed the possibility of a confrontation and asked the crowd to step back. However, the protesters allegedly broke the barricades, occupied the road and resisted removal. “During the process, some of them attacked our personnel with chilli spray,” the officer added.
The group was later moved away from the C-Hexagon to prevent further traffic disruption.
Calling the incident unprecedented, deputy commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said it was the first time officers encountered pepper spray during a public demonstration. “Some of our personnel were sprayed in the eyes and face. They are under treatment and legal action is being initiated,” Mahla said.
The incident comes amid growing public anger over Delhi’s toxic air, with pollution levels remaining in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ categories across several monitoring stations.
(with inputs from agencies)
