Several protesters detained during an anti-CEC demonstration in Delhi on Sunday alleged that they were beaten, separated from their phones and taken nearly 38 km from Connaught Place to a community centre in Pandwala Khurd before being released around 9.30pm. Delhi Police denied that personnel assaulted or mistreated anyone and said the detainees were given food, water and first aid.
The protesters said they were first detained near Connaught Place at about 3pm and later moved through locations including Chhawla before reaching Pandwala Khurd. They alleged that minors were detained with them and that the final location was difficult for lawyers and relatives to identify. The community centre is about 38 km from Rajiv Chowk.
Delhi High Court advocate Gaurav Jain, who said he responded to an SOS from the protesters, reached the centre with other lawyers at around 8pm. He alleged that police initially stopped him from meeting the detainees. Jain said he contacted the police control room by calling 112 and also approached the principal magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board-7 for a status report concerning the detained minors.
One protester, identified as Arjun, said in a video message after his release that police detained people who attempted to intervene when officers were allegedly dragging a couple across a road. He further alleged that the protesters were asked to hand over their phones and passwords, and that an inspector attempted to access a detainee’s photo gallery. These allegations have not been independently established in the report.
Arjun also alleged that the detainees were placed in a police bus divided into several compartments by iron rods and that four minors were among them. He said some protesters were beaten during the journey despite assurances that cooperation would ensure proper treatment. The account was reported alongside the statements of other detainees and Jain.
Police rejected the allegations of violence at Pandwala Khurd, calling them baseless and false. A senior police officer said officers had arranged basic assistance and that the detainees were allowed to leave after arriving at about 8pm. Police also denied that phones were snatched or that any woman or other protester was harassed by personnel deployed at the site.
The police said injured protesters were provided first aid and that buses were arranged after their release to take them from Pandwala Khurd to nearby metro stations and bus stands. Jain, however, said one detainee appeared to have an injury to his hand and was taken away in a van after he asked about medical assistance. The report does not state whether a formal medical examination or independent inquiry has been ordered.
