Police in India's capital have arrested several climate protesters, accusing them of having connections to a banned Maoist insurgent group, as the city grapples with a severe and ongoing air pollution crisis.
Protesters Detained Under Serious Charges
The arrests occurred on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, during a demonstration at Delhi's India Gate monument. The protest was organised by student and climate groups responding to weeks of dangerously poor air quality. Six individuals were arrested and remanded to three days of police custody by judicial magistrate Arindam Singh Cheema of the Patiala House Court.
Authorities filed a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that some detainees raised "pro-Maoist" slogans and were carrying posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. Hidma was recently killed in Andhra Pradesh and was blamed for attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh. The FIR invokes Section 197 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering acts endangering India's sovereignty and integrity—a charge frequently used in alleged extremism cases.
Decades-Long Insurgency and Pollution Crisis Collide
The Maoist rebellion, active for over four decades in central India, claims to fight for indigenous tribal rights and against corporate exploitation of resources. The Indian government aims to dismantle the movement by March 2026. Police claim their investigation seeks to "unearth the larger conspiracy" behind the protest.
This incident unfolded against a backdrop of extreme environmental hazard. For weeks, multiple Delhi neighbourhoods recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 700, with PM2.5 particulate matter far exceeding safe limits. This severe pollution, exacerbated by post-Diwali celebrations, poses life-threatening risks, especially to those with respiratory conditions.
Broader Demonstrations and Police Response
The India Gate event was one of several small-scale protests. At another gathering at Jantar Mantar, demonstrators wore oxygen masks and carried gas cylinders to symbolise the city's air quality emergency. Police allege some protesters used pepper spray on officers during the India Gate clearance, injuring several personnel. Online videos showed officers dragging and detaining demonstrators.
While police have not publicly listed the organisations suspected of involvement or provided further evidence, a source told The Indian Express that posters were brought by members of two groups. The situation highlights the tense intersection of environmental activism, public health, and state security concerns in India's polluted capital.
