Mystery Surrounds Impounded Stone Truck Sighted at Delhi Protests Under Police Watch

Contradicting Timelines of the July 20 March

A vehicle loaded with stones that appeared at a July 20 protest site near Jantar Mantar was supposedly under the control of the Delhi Police at the time. According to a Tuesday report by Newslaundry, the truck had been seized four days prior to the march organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Despite police claims that it was moved for security reasons, the truck was identified both at the demonstration and later outside the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) headquarters on Raisina Road.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke raised alarms on the day of the march, questioning how a heavy vehicle carrying potential projectiles bypassed security cordons. Dipke suggested the truck's presence could have been a setup to incite violence or discredit demonstrators. While the IYC State president noted the truck remained outside their office for several days starting July 21, the police have dismissed these allegations as misleading.

The Paper Trail of FIR No. 65/2026

The truck's presence in the capital stems from a July 16 collision with an EECO van at the intersection of Firoz Shah Road and Kasturba Gandhi Marg. Following the accident, which injured six individuals, law enforcement impounded both vehicles. They were initially held at the Sansad Marg police station storage facility. Internally, officials have provided varying accounts of what followed:

• One officer claimed the truck sat outside the station until July 20, then was taken to Bhalswa to be emptied before returning to the same spot.
• An investigating officer stated the truck was moved solely because of the protest but failed to explain its arrival at the IYC office.
• A Station House Officer asserted the truck was emptied on July 19, dismissing video evidence of the loaded vehicle as outdated.

Official Denials and Logistic Explanations

The Delhi Police maintain that the vehicle was relocated in the early hours of July 20 for "safe custody" due to space issues at the station. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma clarified that while heavy vehicles are restricted in the zone, trucks with specific permits are allowed entry. Sharma denied that the vehicle ever reached the protest site itself, stating it was kept at a separate, undisclosed location. Despite apparent discrepancies between different officers' statements, the DCP insisted all police accounts are factual and contain no contradictions.

Source: The Hindu — Cities