Protests Over Delhi Air Quality Lead to Clashes, Detentions
New Delhi, November 23, 2025 – Fresh protests erupted at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday, as demonstrators voiced their concerns over the city’s persistent and hazardous air pollution. The protests resulted in traffic disruption and a concerning incident where protesters allegedly used chilli spray on police officers, leading to injuries and the detention of six individuals.
Protesters blocked a road, initiating a sit-in demonstration. During the subsequent effort to clear the area and restore traffic flow,some protesters reportedly deployed chilli spray against law enforcement,causing injuries to several officers. According to DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla, this was an “unprecedented” event.
“This was very unusual. For the first time, protesters used chilli spray on officers managing traffic and law and order,” Mahla stated, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI). He confirmed that officers were sprayed in the eyes and face and are currently receiving treatment at RML Hospital. “A few of our officers were sprayed in the eyes and face and are currently receiving treatment at RML hospital. legal action is being taken in this regard,” he added.
delhi Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) citing obstruction of government work and other relevant legal sections.An investigation is underway to gather further details.
Authorities are also investigating the presence of posters depicting Madhvi Hidma, a top Naxal leader recently killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama raju district on Tuesday. Officials will examine the origin of the posters and identify those responsible for their distribution.
The protests come as Delhi continues to grapple with severely polluted air. on Sunday, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 391, categorized as ‘very poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Nineteen monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels,while another nineteen registered ‘very poor’ readings exceeding 300. The Air Quality early Warning System forecasts that the city will remain in the ‘very poor’ category through Wednesday.
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar described the air pollution situation as “a national health emergency,” and urged the central government to take immediate action. she criticized the Centre for allegedly failing to address the issue despite being in power for ten months. Kakkar called for an emergency meeting involving Chief Ministers and Environment Ministers from the National Capital Region (NCR),accusing the government of “committing fraud with people’s health” and citing this as the reason for repeated public protests.
Earlier this month, activists, protesters, and leaders from opposition parties, including AAP and Congress, marched towards India Gate demanding effective government policies to combat air pollution, as the AQI surpassed 400 in many areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a maximum temperature of 26.7°C and a minimum of 10.4°C in Delhi on Sunday, slightly below normal for this time of year. Humidity was at 68 per cent at 5:30 pm. The forecast for Monday predicts moderate fog with temperatures ranging between 25°C and 10°C.