Delhi protest: Right-wing groups assault protesters, journalists amid heavy security deployment

Right-wing groups in Delhi violently assaulted protesters and journalists on Saturday, despite the presence of over 25,000 security personnel. In Connaught Place and near the MCD Civic Centre, groups from the Bajrang Dal and Hindustan Raksha Dal threatened journalists, shouted slogans, and physically attacked protesters. One Bajrang Dal member shouted at journalists, stating they would protect Delhi Police from using arms against them.

Police intervened and detained some of the men, but the incidents of violence were widespread and captured on video.

A video showed protesters being slapped, kicked, and dragged, with one young woman being beaten by two men until her sister intervened. The police rescued the woman and removed the attackers, but no FIR was filed at the time. Another video showed a 21-year-old media student being attacked with brass knuckles and his T-shirt torn by the men.

He and his friends had been targeted by both the police and the right-wing groups multiple times. Despite the violence, no police officers are reported to have intervened or stopped the attackers during these incidents.