Chilli spray, chaos, and ‘Hidma’ chants escalated Delhi protest.
As police pushed the crowd back, some protesters suddenly began shouting “Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe,” sparking confusion and tension as officers struggled to understand the group’s intent amid the chaos.
What began as a peaceful demonstration against Delhi’s worsening air quality turned into a tense and chaotic evening at India Gate on Sunday, leaving both protesters and police shaken. What was meant to be a symbolic stand against the toxic smog blanketing the national capital quickly spiralled into violence as tempers rose, crowds surged, and unexpected slogans shifted the mood entirely.
According to police officials, the protestors had gathered without permission and sat down in the middle of the road near India Gate, holding posters and chanting against the rising pollution levels. For nearly an hour, the demonstration remained loud but orderly, with people expressing frustration over the city’s hazardous air and demanding urgent action. Families, students, and activists had joined in, hoping to make their voices heard.
But the situation changed abruptly when police personnel approached the group and tried to disperse them. Officers say they requested the protesters to clear the road, reminding them that the gathering had no police approval and was obstructing traffic. Instead of stepping back, some members of the crowd reportedly pushed against the barricades. Within moments, the scene grew volatile.
A small section of protesters allegedly broke the barricades and, in a shocking escalation, used chilli spray on police personnel. The sudden sting caused panic, with at least three to four officers suffering irritation and burning sensations in their eyes. As the affected cops stepped back for first aid, more officials rushed in to control the crowd, leading to a scuffle that further heightened tensions.
Amid the chaos, an even more unexpected twist emerged. The chant cut through the air, surprising even fellow protesters who had come solely for the environmental demonstration.
Adding to the confusion, one man lifted a poster that read: “From Birsa Munda to Madvi Hidma, the struggle of our forests and environment will go on.” The message, blending historical tribal resistance with a violent Maoist figure, left both police and onlookers bewildered. Officers later said this was the moment they realised that the protest may have been infiltrated or influenced by individuals with a completely different agenda.
Madvi Hidma, whose name suddenly echoed through the crowd, was not an unknown figure. He had been one of the most feared Maoist commanders, believed to be behind at least 26 major attacks on security forces and civilians. His record included the 2010 Dantewada massacre that killed 76 CRPF personnel, the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush that left 27—including senior Congress leaders—dead, and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur attack in which 22 security personnel lost their lives. His death in the November 18 encounter had closed a bloody chapter in the Maoist insurgency. Hearing chants glorifying him at a Delhi pollution protest took many by surprise and raised concerns about the intentions of certain groups within the crowd.
By the time police fully dispersed the gathering and secured the area, the atmosphere around India Gate had shifted from frustration to unease. What began as a civic protest about air pollution had unexpectedly merged with elements of radical sloganeering and physical confrontation.
For many Delhi residents watching online or passing by the scene, the evening served as a reminder of how quickly public anger—already intensified by the city’s suffocating air—can be hijacked or escalated. For the police, it marked yet another instance of a routine crowd-control situation turning unpredictable. And for the original protesters who came simply to demand cleaner air, the shift toward violence and extremist slogans left them disappointed and disheartened.
What was meant to be a call for environmental accountability instead ended as a night of confusion, clashes, and troubling undertones—leaving the city with more questions than answers.