The lumpen elements given a free run against CP protesters
In another incident, a group surrounded Ramit Verma, who runs the account Peeing Human, in a lane and tried to assault him while a woman with him tried to shield him. When security personnel arrived, the group claimed Verma had talked of setting a shop on fire. He was dragged out, and one of the men slapped him.
Reporters observed similar scenes on October 10.
What they said
Jai Kishan Pandey denied that he, his brother or their car had any involvement in violence. He also denied being part of any group that instigated violence against protesters or chanted for the police to use force against them.
Asked about visuals showing him with people involved in violence, Sandeep Dedha initially admitted he was there at the protest last week but claimed he did not know anyone. “I don’t know you. Why are you asking me so many details?” he said, before disconnecting the call.
Jai Kishan Pandey claimed “no sticks were taken out of our car”. “Some people have made a video and are claiming that sticks were kept inside the car, but that is not true. My vehicle was also checked at the police station. You can go and ask there.”
When asked about people involved in the violence being seen fleeing in their car, he said, “Nobody sat in our car. I don’t know anyone.”
Asked whether he knew Sandeep Dedha and Indresh Dwivedi, he said, “I am hearing these names for the first time. Who are they? I am a shopkeeper. I sit in the market and have nothing to do with anyone. But I heard that these communists and cockroaches wanted to burn the market.”
Asked whether he was present on October 7, when slogans were raised calling for protesters to be beaten up, he said, “I don’t know. I sit in the market. Something may have happened there, and I may have seen it by chance.”
Reached for comment, Head Constable Attri from Connaught Place police station said, “We were there to maintain law and order. As the crowd gathered there, we let the car go. But later, we checked it at the police station. Our SHO himself checked it.”
Asked why those carrying sticks and indulging in violence were not being detained when protesters and journalists had seen police action, he said, “I cannot comment on that.”
Newslaundry has sent questions to Indresh Dwivedi and New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma Delhi Police. This report will be updated if they respond.
