Delhi Records AQI 397 While India Gate Protest Turns Chaotic With Chilli Spray Incident

A protest against Delhi’s crippling air pollution at India Gate descended into violence on Sunday evening when a section of demonstrators raised slogans glorifying slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma and attacked police personnel with chili/pepper spray. Banners proclaiming “From Birsa Munda to Madvi Hidma, the struggle of our forests and environment will go on” and chants of “Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe” were clearly visible minutes before the situation turned chaotic near the C-Hexagon. Delhi Police have termed the Maoist slogans anti-national and promised swift legal action against those responsible.

The demonstration had begun as a spontaneous citizen outcry over the capital’s toxic air, which registered an overall AQI of 397 (“very poor”) at 6 a.m. on November 24, 2025, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Twenty of the city’s 39 monitoring stations recorded “severe” readings above 400, with Vivek Vihar and Rohini hitting the day’s worst at 458. Low wind speeds and dropping temperatures have trapped pollutants for 18 near-consecutive days, pushing PM2.5 concentrations to levels more than 12 times the WHO safe limit.

Hospitals are reporting a surge in respiratory illnesses, eye irritation, and asthma attacks, particularly among children and the elderly. Schools have shifted classes online, and outdoor activities remain suspended under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes bans on construction, certain diesel vehicles, and enforced mechanized sweeping. Despite these measures, the 24-hour average AQI has climbed steadily from 364 on Friday to 391 by Sunday afternoon.

Hundreds gathered peacefully at India Gate on Sunday carrying placards that read, “When the state makes the air itself poisonous, people must unite for survival.” Organizers demanded stricter penalties for stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and a nationwide ban on firecrackers. The mood shifted dramatically when protesters moved toward the restricted C-Hexagon area, blocking the carriageway and halting ambulances and emergency vehicles.

Police said repeated appeals to clear the road for medical emergencies were ignored. Demonstrators allegedly broke barricades and, during the ensuing scuffle, sprayed chili powder directly into the eyes and faces of on-duty officers. Several personnel required immediate treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla described the use of pepper spray as “unprecedented in any protest here,” confirming that 15 people have been arrested so far.

The sudden appearance of pro-Maoist slogans honoring Madvi Hidma—who was killed in an encounter on November 18 and was linked to some of the deadliest attacks on security forces, including the 2010 Dantewada massacre of 76 CRPF personnel—has stunned authorities and added a volatile political layer to what began as an environmental protest. Hidma, a tribal leader from Bastar carrying a ₹50 lakh bounty, was the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee.

Delhi Police have separated the two issues: legitimate public anger over air pollution will not be suppressed, but glorifying a designated terrorist and assaulting police personnel will invite stringent charges under relevant sections of law. CCTV footage and video evidence are being examined to identify those who raised the Maoist slogans and used the spray. As the city wakes to another day of hazardous air, the violent turn of events has cast a shadow over both the ongoing smog crisis and the right to peaceful protest.