The organisers of a protest in opposition to air air pollution in Delhi on Sunday alleged that they have been repeatedly pressured by police officers to cancel the demonstration.
The protest occurred on the Mansingh Street close to India Gate on Sunday night, on a day when the nationwide capital recorded an air high quality index within the “very poor” class at 370.
Among the many protestors have been environmental activists, journalists, younger individuals and civil society members.
One of many organisers, who requested to not be named, instructed Scroll that the police threatened to file first data reviews in opposition to these behind the agitation. “…However regardless of almost 100 calls over the previous three days – from DCP (deputy commissioner of police] to SHOs [station house officers] – the organisers determined to go forward with the protest,” he stated.
The organiser stated the truth that India Gate has for a number of years been cordoned off and closed to peaceable demonstrations was purpose sufficient for Delhi’s residents to collect there and protest in opposition to a public well being emergency.
One other organiser instructed Scroll that she acquired a number of calls from the police, pressuring her to cancel the protest. She stated officers repeatedly requested her to put up on social media and on prompt messaging group chats, telling individuals to not present up.
The police additionally visited the house of one of many organisers, and even questioned his earlier landlord about his location, a kind of behind the protest alleged.
Scroll tried to contact Manoj Kumar Singh, the station home officer of the Kartavya Path police station, to hunt a response, however didn’t get a reply. This text can be up to date if he responds.
The police detained a number of of the protestors, together with some senior residents, who had gathered close to India Gate round 5.45 pm. These detained have been taken to the Narela and Bawana police stations, Scroll has learnt.
Why are ladies protesters demanding clear air detained from Indian Gate being taken to Narela after 6pm? Will @DelhiPolice reply?
Is that this turn out to be a brand new norm to harass the individuals asking inquiries to the federal government?
— N Sai Balaji | ఎన్ సాయి బాలాజీ (@nsaibalaji) November 9, 2025
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla instructed PTI that the detentions have been preventive in nature. “Solely Jantar Mantar is designated as a protest web site the place permission might be sought by following the due process,” he stated.
An unidentified police official additionally instructed the information company that some people have been detained as there was no permission to carry a protest on the India Gate.
Further Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Anand Kumar Mishra had on Saturday written to the organisers of the protest, saying that demonstrations weren’t allowed at India Gate in view of safety and regulation and order considerations.
