Vigilante Attacks on Anti-Government Protesters in Delhi Spark Outrage

Police accused of inaction as Hindu Raksha Dal activists assault students in full view of officers

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

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Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD) activists, caught on video assaulting anti-government protesters in New Delhi, have been arrested and released on bail, with outrage mounting over police inaction and state protection for vigilante groups. The violence occurred amid mass demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll manipulation benefiting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to a report by The Diplomat, New Delhi and other Indian cities have seen massive anti-government protests in recent weeks, with student and youth groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-roll manipulation to benefit the BJP. The government has responded with a heavy security crackdown, including closing metro stations, barricading roads, and deploying tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel drawn from border and insurgency regions.

During protests on October 10 in central Delhi, video footage showed men wearing saffron scarves - the color of the Sangh Parivar, the family of Hindu nationalist organizations of which the BJP is a part - beating unarmed young men and women, including minors. The assailants, identified as members of the Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD), were seen assaulting victims in the presence of police officers. In one incident, a woman who intervened was pushed to the ground and had her clothes pulled before a policeman gently led one attacker away rather than arresting him.

The footage triggered widespread anger, forcing Delhi Police to detain four HRD activists: Raman Saini, Vivekanand, Kapil Kumar, and Ravinder Singh. HRD chief Bhupendra Singh Tomar, known as Pinky Bhaiyya, described them as "warriors" working for Sanatan Dharma, justifying their actions in an interview with Outlook magazine. “The CJP activists tried to vitiate the atmosphere in the country during the protests at Jantar Mantar in July,” Tomar said. “We will deal with these people who are resorting to violence, and we will set them straight. We take pride in our actions, and we will continue to do so.”

The four men were released on bail soon after arrest, with Delhi Police raising no objection. Tomar welcomed and garlanded them upon release. Tomar himself faces over 30 cases including hate speech, distributing weapons, death threats, assault, and extortion, but has consistently secured bail. "Aaj jail, kal bail, aur phir wahi khel" (jail today, bail tomorrow and then again, the same game), his supporters say.

The HRD, founded in 2013, is among dozens of vigilante groups that have grown under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule. The Diplomat reports that such outfits enjoy state protection and rarely face conviction. Previous attacks include the 2020 assault on Jawaharlal Nehru University students, which Tomar claimed responsibility for, and a 2024 incident in Ghaziabad where HRD activists burned homes of Muslims they alleged were illegal Bangladeshi migrants. In December 2025, Tomar and his son were arrested for distributing swords to Hindus for "self-defense."

Critics argue that outfits like the HRD allow the Sangh Parivar and the BJP government to deploy illegitimate violence while maintaining deniability, as their membership is nebulous and hard to link directly to the ruling party.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The violence raises serious concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law in India, the world's largest democracy.
The alleged state protection of vigilante groups could embolden further attacks on political dissent and minority communities.
International attention on India's human rights record may intensify, affecting diplomatic and trade relationships.

Background

The anti-government protests began after accusations that the Election Commission, under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, manipulated voter rolls to favor the BJP. A heavy security response was deployed, including paramilitary forces normally stationed in conflict zones. The Hindu Raksha Dal is one of many Hindu nationalist vigilante groups that have emerged under the Modi government, often targeting Muslims, secular activists, and political opponents. Group chief Bhupendra Singh Tomar has a long record of legal cases but has repeatedly secured bail, illustrating what supporters call a cycle of arrest and release.

Key Perspectives

Government and police: The authorities have denied allegations of bias, stating that local police took action by arresting four HRD members. However, the quick release on bail without police objection has fueled criticism. Hindu Raksha Dal: The group justifies its actions as defending Sanatan Dharma and claims protesters are anti-national elements trying to destabilize the country. Opposition and human rights groups: They accuse the state of collusion with vigilantes, pointing to police inaction during the attacks and the pattern of impunity enjoyed by HRD activists. They call for independent investigations and the disbanding of violent groups.

What to Watch

Whether the four arrested HRD activists face trial or continue to evade punishment.
The scale and duration of anti-government protests, and whether they shift to other cities.
Statements from international bodies like the UN, US State Department, or EU on the crackdown and vigilante violence.
Any internal investigation or disciplinary action against Delhi Police officers who failed to intervene.

Sources

Hindutva Goons Unleash Violence on Anti-Modi Protesters · The Diplomat

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedVigilante Attacks on Anti-Government Protesters in Delhi Spark OutrageThe Diplomat: “The video triggered anger and outrage in India”
SupportedPolice accused of inaction as Hindu Raksha Dal activists assault students in full view of officersThe Diplomat: “the police and paramilitary personnel in whose presence the vigilantes acted took no action”
SupportedHRD activists caught on video assaulting anti-government protesters in New Delhi have been arrested and released on bailThe Diplomat: “detained four men... freed on bail soon after”
SupportedThe violence occurred amid mass demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll manipulation benefiting the BJPThe Diplomat: “massive anti-government demonstrations and flash protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, over allegations of manipulating voter rolls to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)”
SupportedDuring protests on October 10 in central Delhi, video footage showed men wearing saffron scarves beating unarmed young men and women, including minorsThe Diplomat: “on October 10 in central Delhi ... men sporting saffron scarves ... beating up young men and women, even minors”
SupportedFour HRD activists detained: Raman Saini, Vivekanand, Kapil Kumar, and Ravinder SinghThe Diplomat: “detained four men — Raman Saini, Vivekanand alias Vivek, Kapil Kumar, and Ravinder Singh alias Govind Hindu”
SupportedHRD chief Bhupendra Singh Tomar described them as 'warriors' working for Sanatan Dharma in an interview with Outlook magazineThe Diplomat: “HRD chief Bhupendra Singh Tomar aka Pinky Bhaiyya described them as 'warriors' who were 'working for Sanatan Dharma' ... In an interview with Outlook magazine”
SupportedTomar said: 'The CJP activists tried to vitiate the atmosphere in the country during the protests at Jantar Mantar in July. We will deal with these people who are resorting to violence, and we will set them straight. We take pride in our actions, and we will continue to do so.'The Diplomat: “'The CJP activists tried to vitiate the atmosphere in the country' ... 'We will deal with these people who are resorting to violence, and we will set them straight. We take pride in our actions, and we will continue to do so.'”
SupportedThe four men were released on bail soon after arrest with Delhi Police raising no objectionThe Diplomat: “freed on bail soon after. Delhi Police did not raise objections to their release”
SupportedTomar himself faces over 30 cases including hate speech, distributing weapons, death threats, assault, and extortion, but has consistently secured bailThe Diplomat: “Tomar himself has over 30 cases against him for hate speech, distributing weapons, issuing death threats, damaging property, assault, extortion, and raising inflammatory slogans ... let off on bail soon after”
Partly supportedCritics argue that outfits like the HRD allow the Sangh Parivar and the BJP government to deploy illegitimate violence while maintaining deniability, as their membership is nebulous and hard to link directly to the ruling partyThe Diplomat: “Outfits like the HRD enable the Sangh Parivar and the BJP government to not only freely unleash illegitimate violence but also deny their links to the perpetrators of such violence. The membership of Sangh Parivar outfits and their fellow travelers is nebulous. Consequently, it is hard to pin such violence on the Modi government.”
SupportedThe 2020 attack on JNU students, a 2024 Ghaziabad house burning, and December 2025 sword distribution are previous incidentsThe Diplomat: “In 2020, Tomar claimed credit for the attack on students at JNU ... In August 2024, HRD activists burnt down houses ... In December 2025, Tomar and his son were arrested for distributing swords”