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The pollution situation in the nation’s capital, Delhi, is no secret. The air quality has remained consistently polluted since Diwali. This is why the public is now witnessing frequent protests against the government. A massive demonstration took place at India Gate on Sunday. A tense situation arose between the police and protesters in the evening. Protesters used pepper spray on police, injuring several officers.
Policemen were injured and hospitalized due to the pepper spray attack. The incident occurred when police were trying to stop them from crossing barricades. Police are now taking legal action in this matter.
What did officials say about the incident?
A senior officer said of the pepper spray incident, “Some protesters had entered C-Hexagon and were trying to cross the barricades that were put in place to restrict traffic. We tried to explain to them that several ambulances and medical personnel were trapped behind them and needed emergency access, but they became angry. Police officers on the scene sensed that the situation could escalate into a scuffle. They advised the protesters to retreat.
However, they refused to retreat and broke the barricades. The protesters entered the road and sat down. When our teams tried to remove them, some protesters attacked the police with pepper spray. Following this, the protesters were removed from C-Hexagon to avoid traffic disruptions.
Strict action will be taken – Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahala said, “This was very strange. For the first time, protesters used pepper spray on officers managing traffic and law and order.” According to Mahala, this is the first time police officers have encountered pepper spray during a crowd control operation.
He said, “Some of our officers were sprayed in the eyes and face and are currently undergoing treatment at RML Hospital. Legal action is being taken in this regard.”
Why were the protests taking place?
The air in the national capital, Delhi, has been toxic for more than a month. On Sunday, the air quality remained in the very poor category, with an AQI of 391, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This air pollution is the reason for public protests. According to the data, 19 monitoring stations reported “severe” pollution levels, while another 19 recorded “very poor” levels above 300.
