NEET Protests Overflow Jantar Mantar as Fresh Clashes Erupt at Tolstoy Marg

A crowd of an estimated 12,000 protesters gathered in and around Jantar Mantar on Wednesday evening, July 22, far exceeding the site's official capacity of 4,000 and spilling onto Tolstoy Marg and Parliament Street.

Police deployed tear gas shells and carried out a mild lathicharge to disperse crowds on Tolstoy Marg after sporadic scuffles broke out.

Ground Events & Clashes

• Venue Overcrowding: Police officials estimated 12,000 people assembled at Jantar Mantar, forcing thousands of late-arriving students and supporters onto adjacent arterial roads including Tolstoy Road and Sansad Marg.
• Clash at Tolstoy Marg: Protesters and eyewitnesses reported an argument breaking out around 7:30 PM near Tolstoy Marg, followed by stone-pelting. Police responded by firing tear gas shells for 5 to 10 minutes to clear the intersection.
• Police & Protester Injuries: Police reported that six police officers, including two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP Jai Prakash and ACP Vivek Bhagat), sustained injuries during the scuffles and were taken for medical treatment.
• Prominent Visitors: Opposition leaders including Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Brinda Karat, alongside farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, visited the protest site during the day.

What We Can Verify

• Tear Gas & Dispersal: Police deployed tear gas near Tolstoy Marg to disperse the overflow crowd on Wednesday evening. — The Indian Express
• Crowd Numbers: Police estimated 12,000 participants gathered at Jantar Mantar and surrounding streets. — The Indian Express
• Officer Injuries: Six police officers, including two ACPs, were treated for injuries following the clashes. — The Indian Express

What Remains Unverified

• Identity of Instigators: Claims regarding specific groups or outside miscreants initiating stone-pelting remain under police investigation [unverified].