Dramatic scenes unfolded at Delhi’s India Gate on Sunday as a protest against rising pollution escalated into chaos, with demonstrators allegedly using chilli and pepper spray on police personnel. The protest also featured posters of slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma and slogans supporting him, according to Delhi Police.
Authorities have arrested 22 individuals for refusing to disperse despite repeated instructions. The protest took place at the C-Hexagon, where participants allegedly obstructed traffic and emergency services while confronting police officers.
Use of Chilli Spray for the First Time
“This is the first time we have encountered chilli spray being used against police personnel,” a senior officer said. Several officers sustained eye injuries and were taken to RML Hospital for treatment.
Police said they requested protesters to move aside as ambulances and medical staff were stuck behind them and required immediate passage. During attempts to clear the road, several demonstrators scuffled with officers, leading to multiple injuries on both sides.
An FIR has been registered against more than 15 individuals for assaulting police officers, using chilli spray, obstructing public servants, and blocking a public road.
Previous Demonstrations
This is the second major protest at the location in recent weeks. On November 9, groups had gathered at the same spot demanding stricter government action to curb deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region.
Who Was Madvi Hidma?
Madvi Hidma, a top Maoist commander responsible for some of the most devastating attacks in the region over the past two decades, was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh last week.
The operation, dubbed a significant breakthrough, was hailed by Chhattisgarh Police as the “last nail in the coffin” of the insurgency.
Hidma, 51, along with his wife Madkam Raje and four others, was shot dead in the Maredumilli forest in Alluri Sitaramaraju district. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the encounter as a “decisive achievement” in the campaign against Left Wing Extremism.
Hidma is believed to have orchestrated several major attacks, including the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre, numerous targeted killings, and large-scale ambushes that destabilized the Dandakaranya region for years.
Delhi’s Air Quality Remains in ‘Very Poor’ Category
A dense layer of haze blanketed New Delhi on Monday morning as the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 396 at 7 a.m., falling under the ‘very poor’ category despite the enforcement of GRAP-III restrictions across Delhi and surrounding NCR areas.
Key observations from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
- Ghazipur: AQI 441
- Anand Vihar: AQI 440 (‘Severe’)
- Bawana: AQI 434
- NSIT Dwarka: AQI 322
Visuals from AIIMS, Safdarjung, ITO, Mayur Vihar, and Akshardham showed thick smog enveloping the surroundings, reflecting the worsening air quality.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS), Delhi’s air is likely to remain in the very poor category from November 23 to 26.
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