Family members of Delhi Police personnel injured during the Jantar Mantar protest held a press conference on 31 July in New Delhi, alleging that officers on duty were assaulted with stones, footwear, and flower pots when the demonstration turned violent. The accounts, shared by wives and daughters of injured officers, paint a picture of escalating disorder on 20 July and 25 July that left more than 250 police personnel injured, according to figures cited in a recent report.

What Families Alleged at the Press Conference

The wife of an injured Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) with 33 years of service said her husband left for duty at Jantar Mantar as usual on the morning of 20 July. 'Around 11:00 a.m., he told me there was a huge crowd and that the protesters were marching towards Parliament. I asked him to take care of himself,' she recalled.

She said she subsequently learned he had been admitted to LNJP Hospital. 'They attacked police personnel with flower pots, stones, slippers, and shoes. He also said they broke the barricades put up for Parliament's security,' she alleged, adding that her husband had described 'mischievous elements' joining the protest.

Officer 'Nearly Lynched' on July 25, Says Daughter

The daughter of another injured officer — an Inspector/Sub-Inspector rank officer deployed at the frontline near the barricades — described a more severe incident four days later. 'On 25 July, my father was dragged by a violent mob and was nearly lynched near the Jantar Mantar stage,' she said. 'He remained unconscious at RML Hospital for around four hours. Later that night, his colleagues brought him home, and his uniform was soaked in blood.'

She also alleged that the character of the protest had changed over time. 'He would often tell us that the protest no longer seemed like a student protest and that anti-social elements had joined it,' she said.

Scale of Damage: Equipment and Vehicles

According to figures shared in a recent report, the 20 July incident resulted in damage to more than 110 barricades, over 300 body protectors, more than 350 helmets, over 50 shields, and more than 20 loudhailers. The report further cited damage to 10 handheld metal detectors (HHMDs), one X-ray baggage scanner, and more than 25 government vehicles, allegedly through vandalism.

Notably, authorities have not yet released a comprehensive official assessment of all damages, and investigations into the events surrounding the protest are ongoing.

What Happens Next

With investigations still underway, the accounts of family members add civilian testimony to a developing picture of the violence at Jantar Mantar. The full extent of injuries and property damage is expected to be detailed once authorities conclude their formal inquiry. The episode has renewed debate over protest management protocols and the safety of frontline police personnel deployed at large demonstrations in the capital.