New Delhi, September 05 (H.S.): Security was strengthened outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi on Saturday following a protest call by supporters of Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was detained by Delhi Police in Uttar Pradesh a day earlier.

Barricades were erected around the police station and additional security personnel, including paramilitary forces, were deployed to maintain law and order as supporters gathered in the area.

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on Friday in connection with an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Police teams had been searching for him after the matter drew renewed attention following the circulation of a video on social media.

The detention followed a protest by members and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) outside the Parliament Street Police Station on Friday. The protesters demanded Bhardwaj’s arrest and sought stronger legal action in connection with the alleged assault.

A CJP delegation, accompanied by MPs Chandrashekhar Azad and Pappu Yadav, met Delhi Police officials and sought the addition of further charges, including provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The delegation was also assured that action against Bhardwaj would be taken within 72 hours.

Following the meeting, police teams were deployed to locate Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh. He was subsequently traced and detained in Bulandshahr on Friday. Police sources said he had moved from the area where officers had initially attempted to locate him.

The case concerns allegations that Sanjay Kumar was assaulted during the July protest. Delhi Police have disputed claims that he suffered a skull fracture, stating that a medical examination found his injuries to be simple in nature. Police have maintained that the investigation is being conducted in accordance with established legal procedures.

The controversy intensified after a video of Bhardwaj discussing the incident circulated widely on social media. Bhardwaj has maintained that he acted in self-defence and claimed that he was surrounded by several people during the confrontation.

The police station remained under heightened security on Saturday as authorities took precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident during the planned demonstration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar