Pro-police protest at India Gate amid outrage over 'pro-Naxal' slogans at anti-pollution stir

New Delhi: Scores of people assembled at the India Gate in a show of support for the Delhi Police on Tuesday, two days after videos surfaced allegedly showing protesters raising slogans praising slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma during an air-pollution demonstration here.

Protesters held placards reading: "We support Delhi Police", “Stop shielding anti-nationals”, “Nation against Hidma”, “Nation against Naxalism”, accusing “anti-national elements” of infiltrating civic protests to promote extremist ideology.

Several participants shouted slogans asserting solidarity with the police force and demanding strict action against those who allegedly hailed the Maoist leader.

A protest for clean air was held at the India Gate on Sunday, videos of which have surfaced online, allegedly showing protesters raising slogans praising Maoist commander Madvi Hidma.

Scientists for Society (SFS), one of the organisations that participated in the "Delhi Against Clean Air" protest, claimed two organisations -- Himkhand and bsCEM -- began shouting slogans related to the alleged extra-judicial killing of Hidma.

Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday claimed that a protest against poor air quality was used as a platform to glorify Hidma.

Mishra had posted a video on X alleging that “Jihadis and Naxalites have a new mask — becoming social activists,” triggering sharp online reactions.

दिल्ली में कल हुए प्रोटेस्ट का सच देखिए

हाथ में पोस्टर पॉल्यूशन के नाम के
मुंह में नारे लाल सलाम के

जिहादी और नक्सलियों का नया मुखौटा - सोशल एक्टिविस्ट बनना

दिल्ली ने ऐसी विचारधारा को मुंहतोड़ जवाब दिया है pic.twitter.com/HKvAlihxGX

— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) November 24, 2025

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said it has arrested at least 22 people for allegedly assaulting personnel, obstructing them, blocking roads and using pepper spray during Sunday’s protest where the purported pro-Hidma slogans were raised.

Hidma (51), a senior CPI (Maoist) commander and one of the country’s most wanted insurgents, was killed along with five others in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitaramaraju district on November 18.