Four men were arrested after video footage showed them physically engaging with demonstrators during a protest in New Delhi on October 10. The protest was part of a series of demonstrations in Indian cities calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter roll manipulation, according to a report by The Diplomat.
The Delhi Police detained Raman Saini, Vivekanand, Kapil Kumar, and Ravinder Singh following the circulation of the video on social media. The men were identified as members of the Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD), a Hindu nationalist organization.
The footage from October 10 showed men confronting and clashing with protesters. In a statement reported by The Diplomat, Bhupendra Singh Tomar, the head of the Hindu Raksha Dal, confirmed that the four men were members of his organization. In an interview with Outlook magazine, Tomar described the detained men as “warriors” and said they were “working for Sanatan Dharma.” He accused the protesters of attempting to “vitiate the atmosphere in the country.”
“We will deal with these people who are resorting to violence, and we will set them straight,” Tomar told the magazine. “We take pride in our actions, and we will continue to do so.”
The four men were later released on bail. The Diplomat reported that the Delhi Police did not object to their release in court and that Tomar was present to greet them upon their release.
The demonstrations have seen a significant government response. Authorities have deployed police and paramilitary personnel, including the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force, to protest sites. Measures to control the gatherings have also included barricading roads and temporarily closing metro stations in parts of the city. The protests have primarily involved student and youth activists from organizations including the All India Students’ Association and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The Diplomat’s report also provided background on the Hindu Raksha Dal and its leader. It stated that Tomar has faced numerous legal cases related to allegations including hate speech, assault, and property damage. The report linked the HRD to previous incidents, including a 2020 altercation at Jawaharlal Nehru University where Tomar claimed responsibility for the events that left approximately 30 people injured.
