An attempt-to-murder charge has escalated the legal fallout from the July 20 clashes near Parliament, with a Delhi Police FIR alleging that protesters surrounded officers and attacked them with the intention of causing death.
The case was registered at Kartavya Path Police Station over violence reported on Rafi Marg near the Rail Bhavan roundabout. Thirteen provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been invoked, including Section 109(1), which covers attempt to murder.
Attempt-to-murder charge invoked in Rafi Marg FIR
The FIR was registered on the complaint of an inspector posted at Kartavya Path Police Station.
The officer said he had been deployed at Zone 11 near the Pink Booth at Kartavya Path’s C-Hexagon from 5 am on the day of the Cockroach Janta Party’s “Sansad Chalo” march.
After receiving a wireless message, the police team moved towards barricades near the Rail Bhavan roundabout. The complaint said thousands of protesters had assembled in the area.
FIR alleges protesters tried to break Parliament barricades
According to the police version, repeated loudspeaker announcements informed the crowd that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force.
The gathering was also told that no permission had been granted for a march towards Parliament, the FIR states.
Police alleged that the protesters continued sloganeering and refused to disperse. The complaint claimed that some people then urged the crowd to break through the barricades and move towards Parliament.
Police allege officers were surrounded and attacked
The inspector alleged that protesters surrounded police personnel, assaulted them and threw stones and slippers.
The FIR claims the officers were attacked with the intention of causing their death. Several police personnel were injured, according to the complaint.
Damage to government property and private vehicles has also been alleged.
These allegations form the police complainant’s account and remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny.
Delhi Police said any allegations raised by the CJP or another individual or organisation over the incident would also be examined. The findings would be made public, it added.
FIR describes lathi-charge as ‘mild’
The police complaint said force was used because of the proximity of Parliament and other sensitive installations.
It described the police response as a “mild lathi-charge” and said tear gas shells were fired to disperse the crowd.
The FIR also invokes provisions covering assault and hurt to public servants, obstruction of government duty, unlawful assembly, rioting, damage to public property and acts endangering human life.
Police and protesters injured in July 20 clashes
The Delhi Police said 129 personnel and more than 60 protesters were injured during the July 20 confrontations.
The clashes occurred during the CJP-led march towards Parliament amid demonstrations over alleged examination irregularities.
Around 15 FIRs have been registered so far over incidents linked to the protest at different locations in central Delhi.
Following the violence, Delhi Police deployed 18 Deputy Commissioners of Police across different routes as part of enhanced security arrangements.