More than 15 people arrested during anti-pollution protest in Delhi. They are accused of blocking the road and attacking the police with pepper spray. Posters of Maoist commander were also seen near some protesters.
New Delhi: Delhi Police has arrested more than 15 people for refusing to disperse during a protest on Sunday against rising pollution in the capital. Delhi Police officials said, “Delhi Police has registered an FIR against more than 15 people and arrested them for using pepper spray on policemen, obstructing government work and blocking roads. Relevant sections have been invoked in the FIR.”
What did DCP Devesh Kumar Mahala tell…
New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahala said that pepper spray was used against policemen for the first time in such an agitation. DCP Mahala said, “Some protesters gathered inside the C-Hexagon and then tried to cross the barricade that we had put up to stop the movement. However, they did not agree; they broke the barricade, came on the road and sat there… We requested them to move, as there were many ambulances and medical staff waiting behind them and they needed emergency passage… We asked them to move to avoid blocking the traffic. Removed from C-Hexagon. During the removal, many protesters clashed with the police, and many of our soldiers were injured.”
Delhi Police officer said- “For the first time, we saw the use of pepper spray against policemen. Some of our officers were sprayed in the eyes and are undergoing treatment at RML hospital. Legal action is being taken in this regard.”
Protest against air pollution but why do the protesters have a picture of a Maoist in their hands?
Visuals from the protest site on Sunday showed protesters carrying posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter. A protest took place in C Hexagon of India Gate regarding pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the policemen and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them.
Earlier on November 9, people had also protested at the same place, demanding that the government implement policies to curb air pollution in the National Capital Region. Meanwhile, a thick layer of smog blanketed the national capital on Monday morning as the average air quality index (AQI) at 7 am stood at 396, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category, despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-III being implemented in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This information is according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).