Students’ Federation of India members and Left leaders have alleged that police personnel assaulted and sexually harassed protesters detained during demonstrations in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision exercise and restrictions on public gatherings. The protesters displayed bruises and other injury marks at a press conference on Monday, October 12, and said some detainees required medical treatment.
SFI president Adarsh M Saji, leaders Aishe Ghosh, Nadia and Sharanya, among others, accused police of using excessive force as demonstrators attempted to assemble at different locations in the capital. The allegations included beatings inside detention buses, injuries to hands and legs, and the use of force against women protesters.
Nadia, identified as the Delhi SFI president, alleged that she was surrounded by women police personnel inside a detention vehicle. She said six policewomen tried to prevent her friend from recording the incident, while five officers restrained her. Nadia alleged that one officer struck her hand and another pulled her hair, while a police officer attempted to twist her finger, causing severe pain.
Another SFI member alleged that women protesters faced sexual humiliation while being detained. She said a police officer lifted her kurta while she was being pushed into a bus, and alleged that male personnel were present inside the cramped compartment where women protesters were confined. The allegations have not been independently established in the report.
The protesters also alleged that a member from Kerala, identified by fellow demonstrators as Fidel, suffered serious hearing impairment after being slapped several times on his right ear. SFI members said he was taken to RML Hospital for treatment. The report also said protesters displayed injury marks and alleged that some students had suffered fractures in their hands and legs.
Aishe Ghosh said the injuries she had sustained were minor compared with those suffered by other students. She alleged that protesters were beaten inside detention vans. The demonstrations were held against the Special Intensive Revision exercise and restrictions on demonstrations in Delhi, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, who was also detained during the protests, described the police action as “unprecedented” in her experience of Delhi. She alleged that police personnel were being allowed to act with impunity to intimidate protesters and said women demonstrators had faced inappropriate touching and sexual harassment during detention.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby said Left parties would continue mobilising people with civil society groups, intellectuals and cultural personalities. “You can put up barricades, but democratic aspirations of people cannot be contained by any brutal force,” he said.
The report did not include a response from Delhi Police to the allegations. Further action, including any police inquiry or medical and legal proceedings connected with the complaints, was not specified in the supplied account.
