Family members of Delhi Police personnel injured during the Jantar Mantar protest on 20 July addressed a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, 31 July, recounting harrowing firsthand accounts of the violence. The son of an injured Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) alleged that his father sustained a serious head injury after being struck by a stone while on frontline duty during the clashes.

Son's Account of the Attack

Lakshya Singh Bisht, son of the injured ASI, said he first learned of his father's injury through a colleague. '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.

Bisht noted that his father has received four gallantry honours during his career and that his grandfather served in the Border Security Force (BSF) and fought in the 1971 war. He alleged that stones were hurled without provocation while his father was briefing subordinates. 'As he moved to take his senior officers to safety, a stone struck his head, causing a serious injury,' Bisht alleged.

He further claimed his father told him upon returning from hospital that 'the protest was not limited to students and that some rowdy and aggressive elements had joined the crowd.'

Other Family Members Speak Out

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

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 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.

Scale of Injuries and Damage

According to figures shared at the press conference, more than 250 police personnel were injured during the 20 July 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. Family members also alleged extensive damage to public property during the violence.

Context and What Comes Next

The Jantar Mantar protest, which drew large crowds on 20 July, has become a flashpoint over allegations of infiltration by non-student elements — a claim that the families of injured officers repeated on Friday. This comes amid broader scrutiny of crowd management and protest policing in the capital. The accounts given by family members represent one side of a contested narrative; independent verification of the specific allegations has not been established. Investigations into the violence are ongoing, and further official statements are expected in the coming days.