Brazen Attack on Delhi Police: Stones And Bottles Hurled, Two ACPs Injured in Brutal Attack by CJP Protesters

New Delhi: The national capital witnessed a third consecutive day of violence linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests, with Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel coming under repeated attacks by protesters armed with stones, glass bottles, lathis and other objects. Two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) were among those injured in separate incidents on Wednesday.

In the latest incident, ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat sustained injuries after miscreants pelted stones and hurled glass bottles at police personnel near Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place around 8.30 pm. Senior officers rushed him to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment. Police said the situation remained tense for a brief period before being brought under control.

According to Delhi Police, at around 8:30 pm, near Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place, some miscreants attacked the police with stones and bottles, injuring ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat. Senior officers took him to RML Hospital. The situation was tense for a few minutes, but now there is peace, police officials said.

The attack came hours after another ACP Jai Prakash of Punjabi Bagh was injured during clashes near Jantar Mantar when protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting after police stopped them from marching towards Parliament Street. According to Delhi Police, the officer suffered a forehead injury while performing lawful duty.

Speaking to ANI from RML Hospital, ACP Jai Prakash said protesters had been raising slogans throughout the day and attempted to breach barricades towards Parliament Street. He said police formed a human chain and tried to persuade the crowd to remain at the designated protest site, following which some protesters allegedly began throwing plastic water bottles and stones.

"At about 4:30 PM, ACP Jai Prakash, ACP/Punjabi Bagh, sustained an injury to his forehead at Jantar Mantar while performing lawful duty, when the protesters resorted to stone-pelting. One of the stones hit the ACP on his forehead. He has been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment. Further updates will be conveyed as and when received," Delhi Police said.

The Wednesday clash took place two days after the July 20 massive violent clash at Jantar Mantar amid an ongoing agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The clash began as a large gathering of students descended into chaos, with both sides blaming the other for escalating the situation.

Security has since been intensified across the national capital, particularly around Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and Connaught Place, with heavy deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel to prevent any further escalation.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the issue of paper leaks should not be politicised and reiterated that the Centre is prepared to hold a detailed discussion on the matter in Parliament.

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here, Nadda said the government is open to discussions on all issues and is always willing to address them. Answering queries, Nadda said that his meeting with the CJP delegation on Monday took place in a cordial atmosphere.

He said the government will respond to Wangchuk's letter written today and ensure that talks move forward.

"We went to inquire about his well-being. He had been shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta. Since he was in the ICU, the environment there was very restricted. During our visit, we inquired about his health and well-being," he said.

"We also requested him to break his fast, join the mainstream, and guide the children in the right direction. Our government is open to discussions on all issues and is always willing to address them...Today, he wrote me an open letter. We will respond to that letter, and after responding, we will ensure that the talks move forward," he added.

Nadda said the government is willing for further discussion with Cockroach Janata Party representatives.

"The discussion took place in a very cordial atmosphere. We listened to their views very calmly. I also told them that it would be better if they submitted their points in writing. They have put all those points in writing...I also told them that we are ready for a discussion. Whenever they ask, we are prepared to discuss the matter...We had no meeting today," he said.

Nadda said that the issue of paper leaks should not be politicised and it is a serious problem which requires in-depth discussion.Nadda, who is Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said that the government is ready to discuss all aspects of NEET-UG paper leak in Parliament. 

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