New Delhi: A protest over Delhi’s worsening air quality veered sharply off course on Sunday afternoon, turning into a volatile confrontation after chilli spray was allegedly used on police officers and posters of slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma surfaced at the site.
The demonstration began around the C-Hexagon near India Gate, where a group of protesters assembled to demand immediate government action on the capital’s pollution crisis. Police said the crowd soon grew unruly, with several protesters crossing barricades, blocking the road and refusing repeated requests to disperse.
As police moved in to clear the area, some protesters allegedly sprayed chilli liquid on personnel, leaving several officers injured. The situation escalated as demonstrators sat on the road, raised slogans — including pro-Maoist ones — and displayed posters of Hidma, who was killed recently in an encounter along with his wife and other cadres in the forests of Andhra Pradesh.
Police detained over 22 people from the spot and later said that an FIR had been registered under sections relating to assault on public servants, unlawful assembly and obstruction of public pathways. Officials stated that the chilli spray attack was “deliberate” and that officers were assaulted while attempting to restore order.
The emergence of Maoist imagery and slogans triggered swift political reactions. The BJP accused the demonstrators of being “urban Naxals” and said the protest was a “pre-planned attempt to push extremist propaganda under the guise of an environmental agitation.” Party leaders argued that the presence of Hidma posters exposed the “real intent” of those involved.
AAP, meanwhile, insisted that the core issue remained Delhi’s hazardous air quality and demanded coordinated emergency action across the National Capital Region. The party accused the Centre of deflecting from the pollution crisis and called for an urgent meeting of state environment ministers.
Through the evening, police maintained heightened presence around India Gate as detentions continued and officers worked to clear the area of remaining protesters. Traffic disruptions were reported across adjoining stretches, including Tilak Marg and the outer C-Hexagon.
Delhi has been grappling with severe pollution levels for weeks, prompting repeated demonstrations by citizens and environmental groups. Sunday’s disruption, however, marked a dramatic escalation — shifting focus from air quality concerns to questions about extremist symbolism, crowd mobilisation, and police preparedness.
