An NSUI protester has alleged that Delhi Police personnel punched him, kicked him in the chest, back and private parts, and strangled him during detention amid protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal. He also alleged that four minors who were not protesting were beaten and denied adequate assistance.
Arjun made the allegations during a press conference addressed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. (Screen grab)
An NSUI protester from Kerala has alleged that Delhi Police personnel punched him in the face, kicked him in the chest, back and private parts, and strangled him inside a police vehicle after he was detained during protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Arjun, who has been living in Delhi for three years, made the allegations during a press conference addressed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. He also alleged that four minors, aged 16 and 17, who were not participating in the protest, were beaten inside the vehicle.
Recounting his experience, Arjun said he was picked up from Connaught Place along with protesters, journalists, lawyers and other people present in the area. They were taken to a makeshift detention site near LIC, close to Rajiv Chowk, where he alleged that police personnel took away their phones and searched their private files.
“I entered the jail van, and I was punched in my face. And I'm on the floor. They kicked me on my chest, on my back, in my private parts. They strangled me,” he said.
The allegations came amid a political row over police action against demonstrators demanding Gyanesh Kumar's removal, with opposition leaders accusing the authorities of suppressing dissent.
'PHONES SNATCHED, PRIVATE FOLDERS SEARCHED'
Arjun alleged that detainees were taken to a heavily barricaded area near LIC, where media personnel and civilians were not allowed to enter. They were made to sit in rows, with eight to 10 people in each row, he said.
He alleged that police personnel took away their phones and abused one of his friends before demanding his password and searching his gallery, recently deleted files and hidden folders.
“Completely arbitrary use of force,” Arjun said, adding that around 10 to 15 detainees had lost their phones and had yet to get them back.
He also alleged that Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Bishnoi, who he said was in charge of the detention site, assured detainees that they would be treated safely and dropped home. However, other personnel allegedly threatened to beat them.
Arjun said detainees were subsequently called into a police vehicle with multiple compartments, where Delhi Police commandos were lined up. He claimed he was among the first few detainees called inside and was assaulted by several personnel in succession.
FOUR MINORS ALSO ALLEGEDLY BEATEN
Arjun alleged that four boys aged 16 and 17 were subjected to similar treatment inside the vehicle, despite not having participated in the protest.
“They were pleading, they were begging the police officers to leave them. They were not even there to protest. They just happened to be at CP at that point of time,” he said, adding that the minors were Muslims.
He also alleged that a detainee who already had a fractured hand was beaten despite his injury.
According to Arjun, the bus left the detention site at around 5.30 pm and reached a detention centre in Pandwala Khurd, around 35-40 km from central Delhi, at about 7.30 pm.
He said the minors did not have phones to inform their parents about their detention. Despite having their names and ages, the authorities at the centre allegedly failed to provide them with adequate care.
Arjun said friends and lawyers reached the centre after detainees managed to alert people outside. Their intervention, he claimed, helped secure the detainees' release within three hours.
He further alleged that the minors were released without phones or money to travel home and that the police made no arrangements to drop them off. Medical assistance for injured detainees, he said, was provided only after a senior officer arrived.
Calling for accountability, Arjun urged authorities to investigate the alleged treatment of detainees at the makeshift facility near LIC.
RAHUL GANDHI WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES
At the press conference, Rahul Gandhi said those responsible for the alleged assaults would face consequences and urged protesters to preserve video evidence of police action.
“I have told all the students to keep a video record and send that evidence to us,” he said, adding that the Congress would use the evidence to ensure that those responsible were punished.
Gandhi named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the police personnel allegedly involved, saying accountability would extend to everyone found responsible.
He also introduced a woman protester who alleged that a woman constable had grabbed her by the neck, scratched her face and slapped her during detention.
Another NSUI activist alleged that he and a colleague were beaten by police personnel at Parliament Street police station and during their subsequent journey towards the outskirts of Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday heard a petition filed by an NSUI office-bearer seeking an independent probe into alleged assaults on protesters and members of the public during demonstrations on October 10. The court allowed Delhi Police three weeks to file an affidavit raising preliminary objections to the petition's maintainability. The matter is scheduled to be taken up next on October 16.
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