'BJP goons, not students, attacked police': Dipke expresses sympathy for Delhi cops injured during Jantar Mantar protest

Abhijeet Dipke said that brutality on police was not done by student protestors, but by goons sent by BJP.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday reacted to the press conference held by the families of injured Delhi Police personnel, saying that while he sympathised with the officers injured during the protest, the students who were allegedly assaulted by the police should not be ignored.

“We have sympathy for the police officers who were targeted in such a manner. At the same time, the students who were brutally beaten by police officers, what about their families?,” he told news agency ANI.

Dipke alleged that the violence against police was carried out not by the student protesters but by 'goons' sent by the BJP to disrupt the demonstration. He said he had warned from the very beginning that such elements would be deployed to derail the protest.

"This was done by BJP goons. I have been saying since day one that the BJP will send its goons to create disruptions. They have done exactly that. I feel sorry that the police officers were targeted by the same people who were carrying out these actions,” he added.

Also Read: Court asks Delhi Police to preserve July 20 violence CCTV footage

Dipke further alleged that innocent students were being targeted instead of "habitual offenders" to discourage them from questioning the government and protesting in the future.

"Habitual offenders must be dealt with according to the law. They are using those habitual offenders to target students. People in Bihar did not do anything in Delhi. People in Mumbai did not do anything in Delhi...There is a conspiracy to target students, and this is being done to threaten them that they should not dare to question the government or come out in protest again."

‘Protestor, their families could hold conference’, says Ratna Singh

Lawyer-turned CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh also reacted to the press conference, saying she wished that 1,000 of protesters who were injured and their families could hold a press conference as well.

In a post on X, she said, “Pellet guns, tear gas, a girl in the ICU, lathis on skulls, women molested and sexually harassed by police officials.”

"I wish 1,000 protesters and their families could hold a press conference as well."

Families of Delhi Police hold conference

CJP's reaction comes after family members of the Delhi Police personnel injured during the recent student protest at Jantar Mantar held a press conference on Friday, claiming that police officers faced sustained attacks during the agitation.

The families demanded attention to the injuries suffered by several police personnel, and claimed that the suffering faced by police families had been ignored amid allegations of police brutality against students.

Also Read: Delhi promises no legal action against CJP protesters, arrests to be reviewed

The daughter of a Delhi Police sub-inspector injured during the protest alleged that her father was "almost lynched". She said the assault left him unconscious and had caused lasting trauma for the family.

“On July 25, my father was dragged by a violent mob and was almost lynched near the stage at Jantar Mantar. At around 2 pm, he was admitted to RML Hospital, where he remained unconscious for nearly four hours,” she said.

The 37-day-long protest led by the CJP at Jantar Mantar in Delhi drew thousands of protesters, who demanded the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march, particularly, witnessed clashes between police personnel and protesters, with many alleging that police used nail-embedded lathis and tear gas.

Karishma Ayaldasani is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, where she works with the digital team on fast-moving breaking stories from India and around the world. She enjoys covering national and global news, focusing on delivering updates quickly and clearly so readers can make sense of what’s happening as it unfolds. Comfortable in high-pressure newsroom settings, she regularly contributes to live blogs, explainers and real-time coverage. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the digital team at The Indian Express, worked with the social media team at Firstpost, and spent time as a creative strategist at Clematis Advertising. Outside of work, she likes exploring different art forms and unwinds with music. With over three years of experience in fast-paced newsrooms, she brings curiosity, clarity and consistency to her work.Read More