Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alleged on Friday that the police personnel injured during the recent student protest in the national capital were attacked by "goons" allegedly deployed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and not by the protesting students. His remarks came during a press conference organised by the kin of injured Delhi Police personnel, who appealed for public acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by officers during the violence.
Addressing reporters, Dipke expressed sympathy for the police officers who sustained injuries while discharging their duties but maintained that the violence was orchestrated by people with no connection to the student movement.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke
He remarked, "This was done by BJP goons. I have been saying since day one that the BJP would send its goons to create disruptions". While expressing concern for the injured policemen and officers, he questioned what he termed the ‘absence of public empathy’ for students who were allegedly assaulted during the protest.
"I sympathise with the police officers who were attacked. I genuinely feel sorry for them. But at the same time, what about the families of the students who were brutally beaten by police personnel during the protest?" he asked.
Dipke alleges conspiracy to intimidate student protesters
Dipke added to the allegations, saying that there was a broader conspiracy to suppress dissent by targeting peaceful student demonstrators assembled at Jantar Mantar. According to him, the alleged objective was to discourage students from participating in future protests or questioning the government.
"There is a conspiracy to target students. This is being done to intimidate them so that they never dare to question the government or participate in protests again," he claimed.
Policemen who sustained injuries during CJP protest
The CJP founder further alleged that "history-sheeters" and "habitual offenders" had been deployed to infiltrate the demonstration and provoke violence. He questioned why such disruptions occurred only during the Delhi protest and not at similar demonstrations elsewhere in the country.
"Habitual offenders must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. They are being used to target students," Dipke alleged.
Families of injured police officers recount ordeal
Earlier at the press conference, family members of injured Delhi Police personnel addressed the media, sharing emotional accounts of the injuries suffered by officers deployed to maintain law and order during the march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament.
Kunjal, a Delhi University student and daughter of a sub-inspector attached to Delhi Police, said her father had been stationed near the barricades on the frontline when violence erupted.
"My father was pulled into the crowd and beaten. He suffered a head injury and required four stitches. Yet social media portrayed him as a villain," she said.
Lakshay Singh Bisht, son of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, narrated a similar saga, saying his father was also deployed on the frontline and required medical treatment after sustaining head injuries.
"My father's head had to be shaved because of the stitches. My entire family was deeply disturbed by the incident. Whenever I go online, I only see one narrative. Nobody is talking about the violence faced by police personnel near Parliament," he said.