Delhi Police Special CP Devesh Srivastava Visits Hospital to Check on Officers Injured During Jantar Mantar Protest

Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order, Zone-I) Devesh Chandra Srivastava visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital to meet police personnel who were injured during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on July 22. During his visit, he interacted with the officers undergoing treatment and enquired about their health following the violent confrontations between protesters and security forces.

The visit came a day after fresh violence erupted in Connaught Place, where a senior Delhi Police officer sustained injuries during clashes. According to police officials, the incident occurred around 8:30 pm near Tolstoy Marg, when a group of miscreants allegedly hurled stones and bottles at police personnel. ACP Vivek Bhagat, who heads the Connaught Place subdivision, was among those injured in the attack.

To prevent further unrest, Delhi Police has maintained a heavy security presence around Jantar Mantar, where CJP supporters have been staging protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent examination paper leak controversy. Police officials said that more than 100 personnel have been injured since the demonstrations began earlier this week. However, CJP leaders and several opposition parties have accused the police of using excessive force while dispersing protesters, claiming that students were subjected to unnecessary violence.

CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke alleged that male police personnel assaulted female protesters during the demonstrations. He claimed that after a two-member CJP delegation met Union Health Minister JP Nadda, police launched a lathi-charge on the remaining protesters. Dipke further accused officers of using force against women and minors, calling the police action unjustified and demanding accountability from the government.

The controversy has also disrupted proceedings in Parliament, with repeated adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc have continued to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and have sought a detailed discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak issue.

The Centre has maintained that it is prepared for a debate in Parliament but has urged the Opposition not to attach additional preconditions. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has reiterated that Pradhan's resignation is necessary to ensure a fair and meaningful discussion on the matter.