She has lost hearing in one ear: Rahul Gandhi accuses Delhi Police of beating youngsters at anti-CEC protest
Rahul Gandhi alleged that Youth Congress workers were brutally beaten by Delhi Police during a protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
New Delhi,Oct 14, 2026 13:53 IST
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Delhi Police of brutally assaulting Youth Congress workers, who were detained during protests against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, claiming that a woman student had lost hearing in one ear after being repeatedly struck by police personnel.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha introduced Athira, a Delhi University student from Kerala, who alleged that she was assaulted inside a police bus after being detained during Tuesday’s protest.
“Athira from Kerala has lost her hearing in one ear. She is deaf in one ear because she was struck on that ear. She can no longer hear. Last time I showed you a boy who was blinded. Now, she is deaf in one ear,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Athira alleged that there were no female police personnel on the bus when protesters were detained.
“Yesterday, when they detained us, there were no female police officers on the bus. So, I simply asked, ‘Where is the lady police officer or lady constable?’ If they want to detain us, having at least one female constable present is mandatory,” she said.
She claimed the bus subsequently moved and stopped outside the Connaught Place police station, where police personnel repeatedly struck her on the cheek.
“Because of this, I have an injury to my eye and damage to my ear,” she alleged.
Another NSUI woman worker also accused Delhi Police of assaulting her during Tuesday’s detention. Introducing her as “our sherni”, Rahul Gandhi said she had been beaten but remained unafraid and had no hatred in her heart.
The woman alleged that a female constable, identified as Chanchal Yadav, grabbed her by the neck, pushed her onto a seat, scratched her face and the area near her ear with her nails, and slapped her when she resisted.
The alleged assaults took place as NSUI workers were being detained in buses during the protest.
The allegations add to a series of accusations of police brutality during demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with student organisations and other groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Protests were held at multiple locations over the weekend and in the following days, including Connaught Place, areas near Ramakrishna Ashram Marg Metro station and other plqaces in central Delhi.
Congress youth leaders have alleged that police personnel hit them with lathis and kicked them in their private parts during detention. Concerns were also raised over minors who were allegedly released without their phones, money or any means of getting home.
Several journalists also claimed they were detained despite identifying themselves as media personnel and displaying their press cards.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
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