New Delhi: A member of the Hindu Raksha Dal, who was previously arrested for allegedly assaulting students during a demonstration in central Delhi, was welcomed with garlands following his release from custody. Ravinder Govinda, one of four right-wing outfit members detained over the incident, was seen receiving a festive greeting after securing bail in under 48 hours.
Govinda and three of his associates were originally taken into custody on October 10. Footage shared widely on social media showed the group pushing, hitting, and assaulting young students and women near Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg during the Cockroach Janta Party agitation. The protest had been organized in response to alleged irregularities involving the Chief Election Commissioner, though heavy security measures and numerous detentions disrupted the planned march toward Jantar Mantar.
The initial confrontation on October 10 drew sharp criticism from opposition figures, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who shared images of a protester being attacked and accused law enforcement of permitting violence by right-wing elements. A debate also emerged regarding the identity of an individual in a black T-shirt seen being struck in the footage, with various social media accounts identifying the person as a female student, while Govinda maintained the individual was male.
Following his release, Govinda defended his actions, asserting that he and his associates acted strictly in self-defence. The 35-year-old claimed their vehicle was surrounded by protesters near Connaught Place while they were heading toward the Jhandewalan Temple. According to his account, the car was kicked and verbally abused, an escalation he attributed to the saffron flag and religious slogan displayed on the vehicle.
Govinda stated that he feared for his safety and that police intervention enabled them to exit the vehicle safely. While acknowledging that physical altercations occurred, he argued that the widely circulated video clips were incomplete and claimed to have provided alternate footage to the Delhi Police to substantiate his version of events, which contributed to his release.