Delhi Police Detain 25 Returning from Jantar Mantar Protest, Later Released
The Delhi Police detained approximately 20–25 individuals early Thursday morning as they were returning from a protest site at Jantar Mantar, officials said. The detainees were taken to the Lodhi Colony police station, where their identities were verified and their involvement in the protest was examined. They were released around 10 pm the same night.
A senior police officer explained that the detentions occurred because the group had gathered in an area where assembly was prohibited. “We detained them as they had gathered in an area where gathering wasn’t allowed. We are verifying what they did during the protest,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Among those detained was 18-year-old Vansh, a Class 12 student from Gokulpuri. According to his father Arvind, Vansh had left home around 8 pm on Wednesday with friends, pooling their pocket money to buy food for the protesters. “The last time I spoke to my son was around 1 am. He was fine then and said he would return late. Later, his friends called to tell me that the police had detained him,” Arvind said.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions around protest spaces in Delhi. Jantar Mantar, a historic site in central Delhi, has been a traditional venue for demonstrations. However, authorities have periodically restricted gatherings there, citing security and public order concerns.
