Anti-CEC protest: Right-wing group members assault protesters at Connaught Place

A group of men raised slogans backing the police, chased and allegedly assaulted demonstrators in Connaught Place amid mass detentions ahead of the planned CJP protest at Jantar Mantar; videos of the incidents drew sharp reactions from the AAP and Congress.

Published - October 10, 2026 11:38 pm IST - NEW DELHI

Group of men from right wing groups gathered at Indira Chowk in Connaught Place, shouting threats, chasing demonstrators and allegedly assaulting some of them as police personnel remained stationed nearby. | Photo Credit: Lavpreet Kaur

Minutes after Delhi Police detained hundreds of protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for the planned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration on Saturday (October 10, 2026), a group of men from right wing groups gathered at Indira Chowk in Connaught Place, shouting threats, chasing demonstrators and allegedly assaulting some of them as police personnel remained stationed nearby.

The group of about 200 men raised slogans backing police action against the protesters, with some calling for violence against CJP supporters and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “Delhi Police lath bajao, hum tumhare saath hain” (Delhi Police, use your batons; we are with you), the men shouted.

“Hum yahan hain, kahan hain cockroaches?” (We are here, where are these cockroaches?), one of the men shouted, using a derogatory term for CJP supporters.

The confrontations unfolded barely 50 metres from where police personnel were stationed at the entrance to Kharak Singh Marg. While members of the group engaged protesters in physical and verbal altercations, chased them along Connaught Place’s inner circle and issued threats, there was no intervention by the police.

When asked why police personnel were not intervening in the violence, one officer said, “We are seeing what can be done.” Another did not respond.

The gathering took place despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) being in force in the area. Several members of the group, identifying themselves as Hanuman Sena Delhi, were seen heckling and abusing protesters, while some allegedly slapped and assaulted demonstrators and chased them along the streets.

Similar instances were reported from across the city. The AAP, sharing a video showing a young woman being assaulted by a group of men, tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and asked who had given the men the right to attack young protesters. “ Amit Shah ji, who gave these thugs the right to lay hands on Gen Z? Your these thugs will become the final nail in the coffin of the Modi government’s end, remember that.”

अमित शाह जी, इन गुंडों को Gen Z पर हाथ उठाने का अधिकार किसने दिया? आपके ये गुंडे मोदी सरकार के अंत का ताबूत की आखिरी कील बनेंगे, याद रखिएगा। https://t.co/fwhG1NSqYG— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 10, 2026

Congress also shared the video and said, ”Modi-Shah have established a reign of hooliganism across the entire country. The video shows goons knocking a girl to the ground and beating her while the police just watches the spectacle.”

दिल्ली पुलिस के सामने BJP-RSS के गुंडे प्रोटेस्टर्स को मार रहे हैं। मोदी-शाह ने पूरे देश में गुंडाराज कायम कर दिया है। वीडियो में दिख रहा है कि गुंडे एक लड़की को जमीन पर गिराकर मार रहे हैं और पुलिस तमाशा देख रही है। https://t.co/cBDjcNtv5Q— Congress (@INCIndia) October 10, 2026

In another video, a protester was chased along the road by a group of men and assaulted. One of the attackers appeared to be holding a metal knuckle. The demonstrator sustained multiple wounds on his back before running away, with the men pursuing him for several metres. Police personnel were visibly standing by the roadside, but none appeared to intervene in the footage.

The incidents came amid calls circulating on social media over the preceding days by individuals from right-wing groups threatening to reach Jantar Mantar with batons and confront CJP protesters.

Protesters also alleged that, in some instances, police personnel and members of the group pursued demonstrators together.

The instances of assaults in the vicinity of police personnel, raised questions about the police response as officers detained protesters attempting to reach the designated demonstration site.

Published - October 10, 2026 11:38 pm IST

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