crime

15 arrested for using ‘pepper spray’ on Delhi Police during air pollution protest

Published by
PTI

The Delhi Police has arrested 15 people on charges of obstructing its personnel and assaulting them, besides blocking the road during a protest at the India Gate over rising air pollution levels in the national capital, an official said on Monday.

On Sunday, the situation at the protest escalated as some demonstrators allegedly used pepper spray on police personnel while being removed from the scene, the official added.

According to a senior police officer, the protesters had gathered close to the C-Hexagon and were told that their demonstration at that location was obstructing ambulances and medical personnel trying to pass through.

“The situation then turned into a scuffle, and some protesters used pepper spray on our personnel, which is unusual and rare,” the officer said, adding that so far, 15 protesters have been arrested.

The Delhi Coordination Committee for Clean Air, in a statement, said the city’s worsening air quality has become a “serious risk” to public health and alleged that authorities have failed to address the root causes of pollution.

It further alleged that air quality has remained in the “severe” category, while the government relies on “cosmetic measures” such as water sprinklers, cloud seeding and spraying near Air Quality Index (AQI) stations instead of finding long-term solutions to tackle the issue.

PTI

Published by
PTI
Tags: delhi

Recent Posts

Delhi hotel fire: Owner’s aide, accountant Jay Mishra surrenders before court, sent to police custody

Hotel owner's aide and accountant Jay Mishra surrenders; sent to two-day police custody in probe…

June 8, 2026

Preventing AC-related fires this summer

Simple safety precautions and attention to warning signs can prevent cooling appliances from becoming fire…

June 8, 2026

Delhi hotel fire: Court extends owner’s police custody by 2 days

Owner's police custody extended for further interrogation as investigation into the Malviya Nagar hotel fire…

June 8, 2026

NDMC vice chairperson inspects redevelopment works at Khan Market

NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal reviewed the ongoing Rs 1.21-crore redevelopment of Khan Market,…

June 8, 2026

DDMA meeting: Delhi LG Sandhu asks to explore inducting ex-Agniveers to strengthen fire dept

At a DDMA meeting following the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy, LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu suggested…

June 8, 2026

At Delhi Zoo, 27 is the lucky date for lion family as Mahagauri awaits another litter

With every lion birth at Delhi Zoo since 2009 occurring on the 27th, pregnant Asiatic…

June 8, 2026