The Delhi Police’s heavy barricades and restrictions had foiled all efforts by protestors to gather at Jantar Mantar by the afternoon of October 10.
Just then, Neha Bora, president of All India Students’ Association, a Left student group, took to the social media platform X to announce a change in plans – “Dilli Haat becomes Jantar Mantar today!”
Soon, a large group of students and protestors joined Bora as they marched towards the open-air market in South Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
When they reached a flyover, Bora broke into a sprint.
Anjali, a Delhi University student who is a member of AISA, told Scroll that Bora was just 10 steps ahead of her.
When Bora attempted to go across the barricades, a policeman ran towards her, his outstretched palms landing on her chest in an attempt to stop her.
In the incident which was also captured on video, Bora resisted and pushed him back. “People around also screamed at him,” said Anjali.
The policeman folded his hands in apology. “He must have realised that it is Neha Bora,” Anjali said. “Otherwise in every other incident we have only seen smirks and total impunity on the police’s faces.”
Anjali alleged that there were no female police officials present at the time, even though male...