Ramjas clash: Police acted like agents of BJP, says Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold police accountable for the February 22 violence at Ramjas College in which members of ABVP and Left-wing student outfits clashed with each other.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday criticised the Delhi Police over its handling of clashes at DU’s Ramjas college and alleged that the force has become an ‘agent’ of the BJP.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must fix accountability of police officers in Ramjas College violence case. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

“It is the duty of police to protect the people of Delhi and not allow the ABVP and the BJP to engage in goondaism,” Kejriwal said during a press conference on Saturday.

Read: Ramjas clash: Crime branch to probe violence on DU campus, 3 cops suspended

He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold police accountable for the February 22 violence. “I hope the Prime Minister will perform his duty in an impartial way and not work like a BJP worker. The Delhi Police reports to the PM. He is not the Prime Minister of the BJP only but of all the people, including me, and he should perform his duty,” he said.

DCW notice

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has sent a notice to the Delhi Police over the way women protesters were allegedly punched and beaten by policemen, during the clashes on Wednesday over the Ramjas College event.

The women’s panel has set up an enquiry into the matter and sought responses from police. “The commission has come across shocking video footages and news reports wherein Delhi Police officers are seen mercilessly beating and punching women protesters,” said Swati Maliwal, DCW chairperson.

“The commission is of the view that these attacks on women protesters by policemen may also amount to molestation and need to be severely punished,” she said.

Read: Ramjas clash: DU turns fortress day after violence, over 500 cops guard campus

The notice has been sent to the commissioner of police, central range.

Maliwal has also appealed to all students and teachers to send complaints.

“If proper action would have been taken against the officer manhandling the lady protestor during the earlier protests for the missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, a strong message would have been delivered and other police officers would have abstained from such illegal activities,” she said.

Three law faculty students had also submitted pictures and videos to the DCW saying this incident “outrages the modesty of female students”.

“This is a clear violation of the code of conduct of Delhi Police and the gender sensitization training given to these police personnel,” she said.