Retired Delhi Police Officers Plan Demonstration At Jantar Mantar

Retired Delhi Police personnel are planning to stage a one-day protest at Jantar Mantar on July 31, seeking to express solidarity with police officers who were allegedly injured during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led Parliament March in the national capital earlier this month. The Delhi Police Federation, an association of retired police officials, has written to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar requesting permission to hold the peaceful sit-in from 11 am to 5 pm.

According to the federation's application, a large number of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel sustained injuries while performing law enforcement duties during the July 20 protest. The organisation said the demonstration is intended to recognise the sacrifices made by security personnel in maintaining public order and will be conducted in a peaceful and non-violent manner. The request for permission was received by the General Diary (GD) Section of the Delhi Police Headquarters on July 27.

The July 20 Parliament March witnessed violent clashes between protesters and security personnel, prompting police to use lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Delhi Police has claimed that more than 100 police personnel were injured after alleged anti-social elements infiltrated the protest and attacked officers. Protesters, however, have accused the police of using excessive force during the demonstration, leading to conflicting accounts of the events.

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The proposed protest by retired police officers comes as the Supreme Court examines petitions challenging the police action during the July 20 demonstrations. During a hearing on Tuesday, the court observed that police require a new protocol for handling public agitations and remarked that earlier guidelines were not followed during the student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant called for a completely independent investigation into the incidents, stressing that accountability must be fixed for any excesses committed during the protests. The court said those who took the law into their own hands should face appropriate action, underscoring the need for a fair probe into both allegations of police excesses and attacks on security personnel.

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