Delhi Court Orders Judicial Custody for 22 Protesters After Violent Pollution Demonstration
A Delhi court has sent 22 protesters to judicial custody following a demonstration against poor air quality that allegedly turned violent at India Gate on Sunday. The protest, initially organized to highlight Delhi's severe pollution crisis, resulted in multiple injuries among police personnel and accusations of extremist affiliations.
Police Allegations and Court Proceedings
On Monday, Judicial Magistrate First Class Aridaman Singh Cheema of Patiala House Court heard the cases against the demonstrators. The Public Prosecutor representing the police made serious allegations, claiming that protesters used chilli powder against police officers and raised slogans supporting Naxalite and Maoist ideologies.
"They came fully prepared... We stopped them four times. They raised slogans in support of Naxalites. The protest was supposed to be about pollution, why were slogans linked to Naxalites raised?" the Public Prosecutor argued in court. The prosecution specifically mentioned that protesters had chanted slogans favoring Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh.
Defense Arguments and Counter-Allegations
Defense lawyers presented a contrasting narrative, describing the accused as "educated youngsters" who were connecting environmental issues with broader concerns about land, forests, and water resources. The legal representatives for the protesters alleged police brutality and custodial torture during the arrests.
"Police assaulted them," claimed one defense lawyer, while an accused person testified in court: "I was beaten in the police booth... there was a surgery on my knee, they still beat me up." The defense also challenged the characterization of "Lal Salaam" (red salute) as anti-national, noting that communist governments still function within India's democratic framework.
Court's Decision and Legal Charges
After reviewing video evidence presented by the prosecution, the court ordered judicial custody for the accused. In the first case registered at Kartavya Path Police Station, five protesters received two days of judicial custody, while a sixth individual was sent to a safehouse pending age verification.
The protesters face multiple charges under the BNS, including:
- Assault or criminal force to deter public servant
- Voluntarily causing hurt
- Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
- Disobedience to lawful order from public servant
In the second case at Parliament Street Police Station, 17 accused were produced before JMFC Sahil Monga, where the court granted three-day judicial custody instead of the 14 days sought by police. All women protesters will be sent to Tihar Jail No. 6 according to police arrangements.
Broader Context and Implications
The incident highlights the escalating tensions around environmental protests in India's capital, which has been grappling with severe air quality issues. While the demonstration began as a pollution-focused gathering, the alleged involvement of extremist elements and the subsequent violence have complicated the situation, raising questions about the boundaries of legitimate protest and national security concerns.
The cases will continue to be heard as police conduct further investigations into potential Naxal links and the circumstances surrounding the violent turn of events during what was initially planned as an environmental awareness demonstration.
