Delhi Police commissioner recounts handling protests near Parliament

Former Delhi Police Special Commissioner Dependra Pathak defended controversial policing decisions, citing 'seconds' to act in high-stakes situations.

Pathak discussed the 2023 wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar, saying protesters attempted to march to Parliament and threw women police staff across barricades.

Police feared a single protester breaching the cordon could cause a security failure near Parliament, which was 400 metres away.

Pathak ordered removal of protest tents and conversion of the area into a police camp, closing the protest chapter after a week.

The interview also covered an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a manner similar to former PM Rajiv Gandhi.