Delhi protests: Saffron-clad groups threaten demonstrators for second day

Saffron-clad groups carrying sticks were seen threatening demonstrators in central Delhi for a second consecutive day on Sunday, a day after the Hindu Raksha Dal claimed responsibility for an assault on protesters demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The comments came after police arrested four men in connection with Saturday's alleged assault on DDU Marg.

According to PTI, several men carrying sticks moved around Connaught Place, where demonstrations were taking place, confronting protesters and issuing threats. Their presence came despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) being in force.

On Saturday, groups of men wearing saffron scarves and raising religious slogans were seen moving around protest sites, threatening demonstrators and openly defending violence against those protesting the Election Commission (EC). Some claimed they had turned up in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and were unconcerned about being detained by police. The men accused protesters of raising "anti-national and anti-Modi" slogans, with some describing them as "anti-national elements" who "deserved to be thrashed".

Groups were also heard shouting, "Delhi Police tum lath bajao, hum tumhare saath hain (Delhi Police, you wield the baton, we are with you)". The incidents unfolded as thousands of protesters were detained across the capital during demonstrations demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the EC's functioning and its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A widely circulated video purportedly showed two men assaulting a male protester and manhandling a woman, pushing her to the ground and pulling at her clothes. The footage also appeared to show police personnel at the scene. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was among those who shared a screenshot of the alleged assault.

Hindu Raksha Dal chief Pinki Chaudhary subsequently shared the video on X, claiming the attackers were members of his organisation. "These are my workers from the Hindu Raksha Dal, an organisation that delivers on its promises," he wrote, adding that the outfit could set the minds of "cockroaches" straight.

In another post, Chaudhary described the men as "warriors" of Sanatan Dharma and warned, "We have no interest in politics, but if anyone targets Sanatan, we will target them and send them exactly where they belong." He tagged the Prime Minister's Office and the offices of the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi chief ministers. Police identified the four arrested men as Raman Saini, 50; Vivekanand alias Vivek, 32; Kapil Kumar, 27; and Ravinder Singh alias Govind Hindu, 35.