L-G seeks explanation from Delhi Police over student protest

Joint commissioner (central range) SK Gautam met the L-G along with other senior officers on Tuesday. Police sources said the four policemen caught on tape manhandling the students were likely to be transferred till inquiry is completed.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday sought an explanation from Delhi Police over the alleged brutalities on student protesters outside the RSS headquarters in Jhandelwalan on Saturday.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday sought an explanation from Delhi Police over the alleged brutalities on student protesters outside the RSS headquarters.(HT File Photo)

A mobile phone video of police personnel and several others in plain clothes roughing up students protesting against the alleged suicide of Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula went viral on social media, triggering protests.

Joint commissioner (central range) SK Gautam met the L-G along with other senior officers on Tuesday. Police sources said the four policemen caught on tape manhandling the students were likely to be transferred till inquiry is completed.

On Tuesday afternoon, around hundred students protested in front of the police headquarters accusing the police of using force on Saturday because they were protesting against the RSS. The students later met Gautam, demanding action against police personnel caught on tape. The protest led to a massive traffic jam on Vikas Marg, which was cleared only after students met the senior police officer.

The JNU students’ union vice-president, Shehla Rashid Shora, who went to meet Joint CP Gautam with other student leaders said, “The officer told us that he is investigating the case. He has asked us to submit photo and video evidence. He asked if we could identify those men in plain clothes who thrashed the students.”

Citing examples of the recent protests against the UGC and the Union HRD ministry, students said they were increasingly facing police crackdown. “We tried to go and meet the HRD minister but we were not even allowed to submit memorandums,” Kumar claimed.

Police commissioner BS Bassi, however, said one should not look only at the minute-long footage being played on social media. “ The officers are conducting an inquiry. I do not want to go into merits of the case but let me say that the whole incident on Saturday lasted for around three to four hours. The protesters abused the police personnel and also broke barricades. This is also on tape. Our officers are conducting the inquiry and justice will be done,” the police chief said.

Bassi said that his force worked within the laws and peacefully handled 11,156 protest demonstrations last year.

The DCW has already sent a notice to the police seeking an explanation about the incident and why there were no male police officers to deal with women protesters.