The recent protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET examination leak addresses a deeply emotional issue. The frustration of students and the grief of affected families are unquestionable, and the cause rightfully drew widespread national support.
However, when a peaceful demonstration morphs into a march toward the Parliament despite active restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS, the core issue shifts dramatically, from a battle for educational reform to a critical challenge of law and order. As someone who has stood on the front line of law enforcement and faced the unpredictable, volatile nature of large crowds, I view the actions of the Delhi Police through a lens grounded in operational reality.
When thousands attempt to storm the high-security perimeter of the nation’s Parliament during an active session, police personnel do not have the luxury of extended debate. Their sole, non-negotiable mandate is to prevent breach, chaos, and total anarchy. In high-stakes crowd control, police officers must act decisively. Because in such moments, strategic overaction is far safer for public safety than tragic inaction. Consider the facts on the ground:
Restraint Under Severe Provocation: Despite facing heavy stone-pelting that resulted in injuries to nearly 70 officers and jawans from the Delhi Police and CAPF, personnel refrained from opening fire.
Prioritising Life: The force relied strictly on non-lethal crowd-dispersal methods, batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, ensuring zero fatalities amid a high-tension standoff.
Proportional Action: The objective was never to target innocent students but to neutralise a mob mentality that often co-opts legitimate grievances and uses peaceful onlookers as shields.
It is remarkably easy to criticise from an armchair, accusing law enforcement of excessive force. It is far harder to stand in full tactical gear, absorbing stones, insults, and physical injury, while bearing the onerous burden of keeping the peace.
The injuries sustained by innocent students are deeply unfortunate; however, when crowds disregard legal directives and force their way into high-security zones, aggressive police intervention becomes inevitable. The Delhi Police and CAPF personnel handled a potentially catastrophic situation with resilience, professionalism, and remarkable restraint.
Instead of unfairly maligning men and women who put their safety on the line to uphold public order, we ought to recognise the immense pressure they faced and appreciate a tough job executed under extraordinary circumstances.
Note: The views mentioned in the article are of the author and Indie Times does not endorse or refute the thoughts mentioned therein.
