Delhi Protest Turns Violent, Tear Gas Fired at Jantar Mantar

The ongoing protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak turned violent on Tuesday night, leaving several Delhi Police personnel injured and forcing security forces to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to Delhi Police, the protest site, which has a capacity of around 4,000 people, witnessed an estimated 12,000 protesters, causing the gathering to spill over onto Tolstoy Marg and Parliament Street.

Violence Breaks Out on Tolstoy Marg

Delhi Police said the violence erupted around 8:30 PM near Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place when a section of the crowd allegedly attacked police personnel with stones and bottles. The attack left ACP Vivek Bhagat and several other police personnel injured. The injured officer was shifted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for medical treatment.

Police officials stated that the situation remained tense for several minutes before security forces managed to bring it under control.

If other police officers had not interfered, these cockroaches would have killed that police officer….

Dear @DelhiPolice, identify these Jihadis, catch them and make sure the same police personnel get the chance to interrogate them. pic.twitter.com/xzQBu7mDJu

— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) July 22, 2026

Police Say Protesters Ignored Appeals

According to police sources, protesters moved from Jantar Mantar towards Tolstoy Marg, where the demonstration escalated into violence. Authorities claimed that security personnel initially appealed to the crowd to disperse peacefully.

Police also requested CJP leaders and protest organizers to calm the demonstrators, but officials alleged that the crowd ignored repeated appeals, including those made by the organizers themselves.

Claims of Weapons Among Protesters

Delhi Police further alleged that some individuals in the crowd were carrying sticks, while others were seen brandishing swords and threatening security personnel. As the situation deteriorated, protesters allegedly intensified stone-pelting against Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel.

Following the escalation, security forces used limited force and fired two to three tear gas shells to clear the area and restore law and order.

Protester Gives Different Account

A protester identified as Divyanshu Chauhan (22) offered a different version of events while speaking to the media. He claimed that the violence began after an altercation between CJP supporters and a group of Nihangs around 7:30 PM.

According to Chauhan, stone-pelting started shortly afterwards. He further alleged that while the Nihangs attempted to mediate the dispute, one individual allegedly used a weapon, injuring a protester. He said police then responded by firing tear gas shells for nearly five to ten minutes.

“I believe most people have gathered here for the right cause, but a few individuals are trying to create chaos,” Chauhan said.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the sequence of events and identify those responsible for the violence that disrupted the protest in the national capital.