Priors
December 2012 Delhi gang-rape protests

Lathi charge

23 Dec 2012

In power
INC — Delhi Police
Acted
Police, Delhi

On 23 December police used batons, tear gas and water cannon to clear crowds at India Gate and near Vijay Chowk. Reports describe some protesters throwing stones, burning barricades and overturning vehicles; police said the protest had been joined by hooligans. Journalists' bodies protested at the Press Club of India against police action on reporters. Late on 24 December Delhi Police tweeted an apology to any innocent protester who had been hurt or lathi-charged. In its report the Justice Verma Committee wrote: "The lathi charge on peaceful demonstrators after the December 16 gang rape has scarred the Indian democracy." [3][4][5][7][6][1][2][8]

  • around 150 tear gas shells fired at India Gate on 23 December, said PTI report [6]
  • about 250 tear gas shells fired at India Gate on 23 December, said The Tribune [7]
  • at least 30 people treated for injuries at a nearby hospital, including several policemen, said Officials (as reported by Al Jazeera) [1]
  • around 100 protesters injured, besides some media personnel, said Delhi Police (as reported by PTI) [6]
  • over 50 civilians hospitalised, said The Tribune [7]
  • 78 police personnel hurt, said Reports cited by The Tribune [7]
  • as many as 40 journalists injured, said Journalists' protest (as reported by The Tribune) [2]
The card says this entry is a draft.

Draft. Written with AI help from the sources listed. Not yet checked by a person. 8 claims are held back until sourced. Report an error

The same action under other governments

For each party in power, its most recent lathi charge in another entry. Chosen by this rule, not by hand.

  1. 2026Cockroach Janta Party protests over exam paper leaksIn power: BJP — Delhi Police
  2. 2017Jallikattu protests in Tamil Nadu, January 2017In power: AIADMK — Tamil Nadu
  3. 2011Ramlila Maidan midnight police action on Baba Ramdev's campIn power: INC — Delhi Police

Sources

  1. 1India widens crackdown on gang-rape protestsAl Jazeera, 24 Dec 2012T5 SecondaryArchived 24 Dec 2012
  2. 2Delhi page: Nine metro stations shut; BJP seeks judicial inquiry into lathichargeThe Tribune, 25 Dec 2012T5 SecondaryArchived 31 Dec 2012
  3. 3Report of the Committee on Amendments to Criminal LawCommittee on Amendments to Criminal Law, Government of India (copy held by NYU Faculty Digital Archive), J. S. Verma, Leila Seth, Gopal Subramanium, 23 Jan 2013T2 CourtArchived 9 Jul 2020
  4. 4India gang rape protests: Manmohan Singh appeals for calmThe Guardian, Jason Burke, 24 Dec 2012T4 Report
  5. 5Weren't even near India Gate, say those accused of riotingNDTV, Tanima Biswas, 26 Dec 2012T4 ReportArchived 26 Dec 2012
  6. 6Violence at India Gate, hooligans hijack protestsPTI via Deccan Herald, 23 Dec 2012T5 Secondary
  7. 7Main news: PM says anger genuine, promises women's safety; India Gate turns into virtual battlefieldThe Tribune, 24 Dec 2012T5 SecondaryArchived 31 Dec 2012
  8. 8In late night tweet, Delhi Police expresses 'regret' for violence during protestsNDTV, 25 Dec 2012T5 SecondaryArchived 25 Dec 2012