JNU, AISA DU students protesting against Delhi’s toxic air quality detained; ‘taken to undisclosed location’

Several students and Delhi residents were allegedly detained by Delhi Police on Sunday evening at India Gate during a protest against increasingly toxic air quality in the national capital. The protesters were demanding accountability from the Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta for the “reckless and mindless handling of the issue of pollution”.

The protest was organised by All India Students’ Association (AISA) at 5 pm at India Gate and saw participation from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and Delhi residents. They raised concerns about “Delhi turning into a site of terrible health hazard with the AQI rising to extreme levels continuously”.

“Enough is enough! We seek responsibility. We must come together against this negligence and rise in unison!... Instead of taking positive steps against this we have seen only attempts to hide and alter the issue by the Delhi government,” the AISA Delhi said in a statement earlier.

Soon after the protest began today, several students and Delhi residents were “brutally” detained by Delhi Police, AISA said.

“Citizens were protesting against the Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and the ongoing air pollution in Delhi. The detainees include many female students along with JNUSU President, Joint Secretary, and AISA DU President and Secretary. We are being taken to an undisclosed location,” the students’ group told Careers360.

There has been no immediate response from the Delhi Police yet on the incident.

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Delhi records 'severe' pollution levels

Pollution levels crossed the 400 mark in several parts of the city on Saturday, making the national capital one of the most polluted cities in the country.

The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), reported at 4 pm every day, stood at 361 on Saturday, placing Delhi in the 'red zone' and making it the second most polluted city in the country, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several parts of the city recorded pollution levels in the 'severe' category, PTI reported.

Moreover, two cloud-seeding trails attempted by the Delhi government along with IIT Kanpur researchers failed. The trail was executed despite the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) warning that there won’t be enough clouds in October to enable artificial rain, The Hindu reported.