NEW DELHI: An assistant commissioner of police (ACP) was injured in fresh stone-pelting near the Tolstoy Marg traffic signal in central Delhi amid heightened security following violent clashes during the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar, news agency PTI reported.ACP Jai Prakash sustained an injury to his forehead in the stone-pelting incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.The incident comes amid heightened security arrangements as the CJP continues its protest, two days after violent clashes during the party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20 left several protesters and police personnel injured.Police claimed that the protesters had not obtained permission from the authorities to hold the march.ACP Jagdev Singh said, “The crowd that gathered here was unruly and had not taken any permission from the authorities for the protest. Parliament is not a place where we could allow such a mob to reach. More than 200 policemen, from lower ranks to higher officials, including those from RAF, CAPF and Delhi Police have been injured yesterday. We warned the protestors more than a hundred times and they ignored.”“We rescued multiple women, who were being put forward to face the barricading, children and specially abled people along with many elderly citizens also. Agreeably, the police used force against them, but it only happened when they began to break barricades and created unrest,” the officer told PTI.CJP ready for talksMeanwhile, the CJP has said it is ready to hold talks with the government to resolve the ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, but insisted that the discussions should take place at a neutral venue instead of a minister’s residence.Addressing a press briefing at the protest site, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said police informed the outfit on Wednesday morning that Union minister JP Nadda wanted to hold discussions and had invited them to his residence.“We refused to go to anyone’s house or office. The people’s court is here. Ministers should come among the people. If they want to talk, the talks should be held at Jantar Mantar,” he said.Clashes during ‘Sansad Chalo’ marchThe clashes broke out on Monday when protesters led by CJP, attempting to march towards Parliament, were stopped by security personnel, triggering violent confrontations at multiple locations, including areas around Parliament Street, Connaught Place and adjoining roads.According to the police, protesters allegedly tried to breach barricades erected to prevent them from moving towards Parliament. As the crowd pushed against the barricades, confrontations escalated, leading to stone-pelting.More than 60 protesters and 118 police personnel were injured in the violence, the police said, adding that more than 15 to 20 government vehicles, including police vehicles, were damaged during the violence.Following the incident, security was strengthened across the New Delhi district, with additional deployments of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel at key intersections, government buildings and sensitive locations.(With agency inputs)
