Ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, and on the day of the protest on October 10, Hindu Rakhsha Dal (HRD) chief Pinky Chaudhary and its members posted a series of videos on social media platforms inciting violence against the demonstrators. Strikingly, several such videos were made in the presence of police. 

In the clips, Chaudhary and other HRD members urged “Hindutva supporters” to “set the protesters’ minds right” while using communal and inflammatory rhetoric. He described those planning to demonstrate as “anti-national” and “anti-Hindu”.

Despite reports claiming that Chaudhary was placed under house arrest, he continued to issue calls for HRD members and other “kattar Sanatanis” to reach Jantar Mantar and confront the protesters ahead of Saturday’s protest and on the very day. 

Moreover, a video posted by News Capsule on October 10, the day of the protest, showed a group of men dragging, beating and physically assaulting young protesters near Kamla Market. Alt News identified one of the alleged assailants as Ravindra Govinda, a member of Hindu Raksha Dal.

Govinda shatred a clip on his Facebook account in which he declared “support for the Delhi police in treating the protesters” while identifying himself as a member of HRD. “…As we, the Hindu Raksha Dal, had declared, we will stand with Delhi police in treating these cockroaches…,” he says, while continue to issue threats against the agitators.

Govinda was also seen in a video posted by Pinky Chaudhary, claiming that HRD members were fighting against CJP protesters to “protect Sanatanis”. 

‘We Will Beat Them With Sticks’

On October 9, Chaudhary posted a video in which he stood alongside a group of men carrying batons and openly threatened physical violence against protesters expected to assemble at Jantar Mantar the following day.

Chaudhary declared in the video: “Laath bajake inke pichwade thik karne, dimag thik karne jayenge” (We will beat them with sticks and set their minds right). He added: “Jo log iss desh ko Islam meh le jane ki galat fehmi rakhte hai” (Those who are under the misconception that they can turn this country into an Islamic nation.) He said HRD members and staunch Sanatani believers will “handle” all those who have the “insect of secularism” in their head.

Threats Continued Despite Police Intervention

A few hours later on October 9, Chaudhary uploaded another video claiming that police had arrived at his residence and placed him under house arrest. However, even as he stood in front of several police personnel, he continued to issue threats.

In this video, he declared that several members of HRD had already reached Delhi and were prepared to confront the demonstrators. Referring to Jantar Mantar as an “adda of terrorists”, he reiterated that HRD members would use their batons against those he described as opponents of Sanatan Dharma. “Jitne Sanatani virodhi hai, unke pichwade laal karke hi wapas ayenge” (We will return only after making the backsides of all those who oppose Sanatanis red), he said. He further described HRD members as warriors who are “neither afraid to die nor to kill.” 

Chaudhary portrayed the outfit as pro-police and pro-nationalist, claiming that its members wanted to teach the protesters a lesson for allegedly misbehaving with police personnel. He also accused CJP supporters of insulting Hindu deities, attempting to establish an Islamic state, and acting against the nation. “India is safe till date, only because Sanatani warriors are here,” he said.

 

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A post shared by Harsh Choudhary (@harshchoudharyhrd)

 

Chaudhary’s Son Joins Calls For Violence

In another video, Harsh Chaudhary, son of Pinki Chaudhary, posted a video appearing alongside several HRD members, including Lalit Sharma. The video was accompanied by the caption: “Hindu raksha dal puri takat k saath cockroach-o ki gaand pitne pohunch raha hai” (Hindu Raksha Dal is arriving in full force to beat the asses of cockroaches). 

Dismissing the need for batons, he claimed that he was physically strong enough to pick people up and pin them down himself. “We don’t need lathis; I am tough enough to pick them up and pin them down,” Harsh said.

 

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A post shared by Harsh Choudhary (@harshchoudharyhrd)

 

Threats From Inside Police Station

On October 10, Harsh and his team were detained by the Ghaziabad police. They went on to post a video after recording it while sitting inside the police station and in front of police personnel, where they urged Hindu warriors to “set the mind right” of the protesters. Even as the continued to issue these threats while in police detainment, no cops were seen preventing them from recording the videos or issuing violent threats.

 

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A post shared by Harsh Choudhary (@harshchoudharyhrd)

 

Ravindra Govinda, Other Assailants Held

Prior to his Instagram account becoming unavailable, Govinda had also uploaded several videos in which he expressed support for the Delhi police and BJP government. In these videos, he said HRD members would stand along with the police and participate in “treating” the cockroaches. 

Independent journalist Pranav Pradhi, posting a video on X, questioned Delhi police officials regarding the apparent disparity in treatment of protestors and “Sanatani warriors” of HRD.

He pointed out that Govinda and other members of HRD, who had been making inflammatory statements and issuing violent threats, were not detained on October 10, while several other protesters faced prompt detention. Pradhi highlighted that there were at least six people gathered together, which violated Section 163. 

Govinda later uploaded a video indicating that he and his associates had been detained by the police. 

On October 11, Sunday, Delhi police arrested the four men seen allegedly assaulting protesters in the video. “Taking suo motu cognizance of a video circulating on social media showing four men allegedly assaulting a male protester, Delhi Police, PS Kamla Market, acted promptly and initiated legal proceedings,” Delhi police said in a statement. The four held include Govinda (35), Raman Saini (50), Vivekanand (32), and Kapil Kumar (27).

‘We Won’t Let India Become Bangladesh’

Ahead of the protest on October 8, Sharma released a video in which he issued threats while brandishing a baton. In the video, he stated that the HRD team would go to Jantar Mantar to “treat” the “anti-nationals.” He also declared, “We won’t let this country become Bangladesh.”

On October 9, Sharma uploaded a video showcasing a baton that resembles a baseball bat. He specifically threatened Dipke and Rathee, saying, “Do not confront HRD members, or this baton will enter through your mouth and come out from your ass.”

He stated that in places where Sanatan Dharma is insulted, where Sita Mata is disrespected, and where slogans against Brahmanwad and Thakurwad are raised, they will wreak havoc at Jantar Mantar on those individuals so that seven generations of theirs will remember it. He further claimed that HRD will take revenge for the mistreatment suffered by the Delhi police.

On live video, he used inflammatory language and expletives, urging Sanatanis to gather at Jantar Mantar in large numbers to confront the protesters. Sharma also uploaded several videos issuing threats of violence at Jantar Mantar against the protesters. In a video posted in the early hours of October 10, Sharma used expletives targeting Dipke, Rathee and their mothers while reiterating that HRD members were prepared to use violence against the demonstrators. 


Later, Sharma uploaded another video where several HRD members were seen gathering and raising ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans, and other inflammatory slogans in police presence. 

Journalist Rana Ayyub posted a video in which Sharma was identified by Alt News. The video shows Sharma making inflammatory slogans like, “Dipke, Rathee kaha milenge? Rahul k pichwade meh!” in the presence of several police officials. The police officials can be seen asking them to board their cars. In the post, Ayyub said, “They threatened to detain me when I asked if they were facilitating this hate.”

Notably, there was deployment of a massive contingent of police personnel and army battalions at Jantar Mantar. The authorities invoked Section 163 and detained protesters and journalists, Opposition politicians en masse.

Meanwhile, Indian Express Hindi posted a video showing a group of men adorning saffron scarves brutally assaulting a man at Connaught Place. The assailants were seen wearing metal knuckles, due to which the victim sustained wounds on his back and tore his shirt. The protester ran ahead to safety, where a few policemen were visible standing by the roadside, but none of them came to his rescue, Indian Express reported.