Saffron-clad groups roam on streets, assault protesters

New Delhi: Sporting saffron scarves, raising religious slogans and openly boasting of their willingness to use violence, groups of men moved around central Delhi during Saturday’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, threatening and assaulting demonstrators despite prohibitory orders being in force. While four men claiming to be members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal have been arrested for allegedly assaulting students and manhandling women on DDU Marg, videos from the day showed larger groups moving around protest areas in full view of police personnel, openly supporting the police and administration and threatening those demonstrating against the Election Commission (EC). The men could be heard claiming they had come out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and did not care if police picked them up. They alleged that “anti-national and anti-Modi” slogans were being raised at the protests, while some described the demonstrators as anti-national elements who deserved to be thrashed.

Groups of men in saffron scarves were also seen raising slogans like, “Delhi Police tum lath bajao, hum tumhare saath hain” (Delhi Police, you wield the baton, we are with you).