What began as a demonstration against rising pollution levels in the national capital descended into chaos on Sunday evening, when a group of protesters clashed with police personnel at the India Gate C-Hexagon. The crowd, some of whom carried posters of recently killed Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, had assembled at the iconic landmark demanding immediate government intervention on Delhi’s worsening air quality.
According to Delhi Police, the situation deteriorated after protesters attempted to block the carriageway despite multiple warnings. Officials said they repeatedly reminded the group about the Supreme Court’s directive designating Jantar Mantar — not India Gate — as the permissible venue for protests in the city. The agitators allegedly refused to comply, broke through barricades, and caused a massive traffic disruption in the high-security zone.
Police sources stated that the group ignored appeals to allow the movement of ambulances and medical staff trapped in the growing congestion. When officers moved in to clear the road, several protesters reportedly attacked personnel using pepper spray. At least three to four police officials suffered injuries to their eyes and face and were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment.
Authorities eventually dispersed the demonstrators and removed them from the C-Hexagon circle to prevent further obstruction. An FIR has been lodged under charges related to obstructing government duty and other relevant sections. Investigators are also looking into how the crowd obtained posters of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, who was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh last week, and whether any organised network was involved in their distribution.
The confrontation took place as Delhi continued to battle choking air pollution. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 391 on Sunday — falling under the ‘very poor’ category — while 19 monitoring stations reported ‘severe’ air quality. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, similar conditions are expected to persist through the middle of the week.
