Braving tear gas and sword-wielding Sikh protesters, AP’s visual journalists in New Delhi captured dramatic live video and stunning images of angry and defiant farmers storming the iconic Red Fort as India celebrated its Republic Day. Farmers have been protesting for months over new agriculture laws, and AP reacted quickly when a group of farmers on tractors deviated from an orderly parade, breaking through barricades to storm the city’s emblematic 17th century landmark.
As disorder and chaos erupted in the city, photographer Manish Swarup and video journalist Shonal Ganguly quickly filed their Republic Day coverage, then joined senior video journalist Rishi Lekhi, video journalist Rishabh Jain and photographer Altaf Qadri to cover the fast-developing action at multiple locations. Stringers Dinesh Joshi and Supreet Sapkal also contributed to the photo coverage. The team had to be nimble on its feet, sending reports for the text story as they followed the raucous crowd making its way to the Red Fort.
Protesting farmers shout slogans as they drive tractors into India’s capital, breaking through police barricades to storm the historic Red Fort as the nation celebrated Republic Day, , in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Protesting farmers move towards the historic Red Fort after breaking police barricades during India’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi, Jan.26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves after India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Jan.26, 2021. A violent protest erupted in the capital as farmers stormed the historic Red Fort in defiance of Modi and new laws the farmers say favor large corporate farms.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
While holding a Sikh religious flag and a farm union flag, a Sikh man clings to a flagpole that flies the flag of India, as protesting farmers stormed the historic Red Fort monument in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Supreet Sapkal
Nihangs, or Sikh warriors, shout slogans from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, India, Jan. 26, 2021, as protesting farmers drove long lines of tractors into India's capital, storming the fort as the nation celebrated Republic Day.
AP Photo / Dinesh Joshi
Sikhs hoist the Nishan Sahib, a Sikh religious flag, on a minaret of the historic Red Fort monument in New Delhi, India, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Dinesh Joshi
A protesting farmer, foreground, hurls a tear gas shell back at police as a convoy of farmers broke through police barricades and drove to the historic Red Fort during India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
An Indian policeman fires tear gas shells towards protesting farmer as they advance to the capital breaking police barricades during India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Protesting farmers tear down police barricades as they march to the capital during India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Indian policemen beat farmers driving a tractor as protesting farmers and policemen clash during India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Protesting farmers remove police barricades as they drive tractors the capital and the historic Red Fort during India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
AP Photo / Altaf Qadri
Protesting farmers cover their faces to escape tear gas as they march to the capital during India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2021.
Altaf Qadri
Amid aggressive threats by protesters, they recorded the dramatic breach of the fort, a profoundly symbolic challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government. AP was live with video at key points and captured the extraordinary turn of events as protesters scaled the walls and hoisted a Sikh religious flag from the fort ramparts. In a sudden escalation, Ganguly was roughed up by an unruly mob, his camera cards snatched as outnumbered police watched. With the situation spiraling out of control the team was pulled out to ensure their safety.
Despite the enormous challenges, AP had better competitive coverage thanks to preparation, smart coordination and decision making on the fly. We offered outstanding visuals, including faster video edits to our customers, and updates showing police trying to clear protesters from the fort.