Delhi Police officers reportedly exercised exceptional restraint during violent protests in central Delhi, choosing defensive tactics over forceful action to prevent stampedes, protect public property, and ensure civilian safety, according to senior police sources.
Police Prioritised Public Safety Amid Escalating Violence
Frontline Delhi Police personnel faced intense attacks during clashes near Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, yet continued to focus on securing key government and commercial areas rather than escalating the confrontation, top police sources told CNN-News18.
Officers were deployed to safeguard strategically important locations, including Sansad Marg and roads leading to Parliament, with the primary objective of protecting public infrastructure, businesses, and preventing panic or crowd-related tragedies.
Violence Intensified as Agitators Breached Barricades
According to police sources, the situation worsened after sections of the crowd allegedly broke away from designated protest zones and attempted to breach security barricades.
Authorities claimed that several armed miscreants and outside agitators had infiltrated the protest, using peaceful student demonstrators as cover while carrying out coordinated attacks. During the unrest, protesters allegedly vandalised shops, damaged public property, and targeted security personnel.
Police officers equipped with protective shields reportedly came under attack from heavy stones, bricks, glass bottles, and other concealed objects. More than 118 police personnel, including six senior officers, were injured during the violence.
Restrained Crowd Control Measures Helped Avoid Stampede
Despite facing repeated assaults, the Delhi Police refrained from launching large-scale baton charges into densely packed crowds.
Senior officials reportedly feared that aggressive action could trigger panic, resulting in stampedes and serious casualties. Instead, officers maintained defensive formations using human chains and relied on limited, non-lethal crowd-control measures, including the selective use of tear gas, to disperse violent groups.
Police sources also said that personnel assigned to traffic regulation and routine security duties were unexpectedly attacked during the unrest. At Tolstoy Marg, smaller police teams were allegedly surrounded and assaulted before reinforcement units reached the spot.
Senior Officers Injured While Protecting Colleagues
Several senior officers sustained serious injuries while attempting to control the situation and rescue fellow personnel.
According to police sources, ACP Jai Prakash suffered a skull fracture after being struck on the head by a heavy stone while holding the barricade line near Jantar Mantar.
In another incident, ACP Vivek Bhagat reportedly entered an aggressive crowd to rescue an injured constable who had been cornered and seriously wounded. Police said Bhagat shielded the unconscious officer despite being repeatedly hit by stones and glass bottles, sustaining injuries to his head, face, chest, and limbs before both officers were safely evacuated.
Police Claim Defensive Strategy Prevented Larger Crisis
Officials believe the force’s restrained approach helped prevent the violence from escalating into a wider law-and-order crisis.
By focusing on defensive operations, targeted rescues, and the protection of key public spaces, Delhi Police were able to contain the unrest while safeguarding peaceful protesters, civilians, businesses, and critical infrastructure across central Delhi, according to senior police sources.