Families of Injured Delhi Police Personnel Address Press Conference After Jantar Mantar Protest

New Delhi: Family members of Delhi Police personnel injured during the Jantar Mantar protest recounted their experiences on Friday, with the son of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) alleging that his father suffered a serious head injury after being hit by a stone while on frontline duty during the violence.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, the son of the injured ASI said his father had served the force with distinction and had received four gallantry honours during his career.

“My name is Lakshya Singh Bisht, and my father is an ASI who has received four gallantry honours during his career. My grandfather served in the BSF and fought in the 1971 war,” he said.

Bisht said his father was deployed on the frontline during the Jantar Mantar protest when violence broke out.

“My father was deployed on the frontline during the Jantar Mantar protest. I came to know through one of his friends that he had sustained a head injury. When I saw his photograph, his head had been shaved, and he had four stitches. I was shocked and scared,” he said.

According to Bisht, his father later described the situation at the protest site after returning home from the hospital.

“When my father returned home, he told me that the protest was not limited to students and that some rowdy and aggressive elements had joined the crowd,” he said.

He further alleged, “They began pelting stones without provocation while he was briefing his subordinates. As he moved to take his senior officers to safety, a stone struck his head, causing a serious injury.”

Other family members of injured police personnel shared similar accounts during a press conference.

The wife of another injured Delhi Police ASI said the crowd “turned aggressive” and that police personnel were attacked with “flower pots, stones, slippers, and shoes”. She also claimed protesters broke barricades installed for Parliament’s security.

Meanwhile, the daughter of an injured Delhi Police Sub-Inspector (SI) alleged that her father had earlier warned that the protest “no longer seemed like a student protest” and claimed that “anti-social elements had joined it.”

She further alleged that he was dragged by a violent mob, lost consciousness for several hours, and returned home with his uniform soaked in blood.

According to recent figures shared, more than 250 police personnel were injured during the July 20 protest. The claimed damage included over 110 barricades, more than 300 body protectors, over 350 helmets, more than 50 shields, over 20 loudhailers, 10 handheld metal detectors (HHMDs), one X-ray baggage scanner, and more than 25 government vehicles.

The family members also alleged that public property suffered extensive damage during the violence.

For more details: Munsif daily.com