Kerala Students at DU Allege Police Brutality and Humiliation After Clash near Red Fort

Two Kerala students from Delhi University alleged mob assault, police brutality, cultural humiliation, and extortion near the Red Fort. MP John Brittas demanded an inquiry, while police cited contradictory hawker testimonies disputing claims.

Two students from Kerala were subjected to violence and false accusations of theft last week near the Red Fort area. These students were from their 1st year of undergraduate studies at Delhi University’s Zakir Hussain Delhi College. Taking action on the incident, Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to Satish Golcha, Delhi Police Commissioner. He demanded an investigation into what he termed “an inhuman attack, custodial assault and cultural humiliation”.

The letter stated that the students – identified as Aswanth I T and Sudhin K – were rudely confronted by a group of scoundrels on September 24th and falsely accused of theft. The letter alleged,

Instead of extending protection, the policemen colluded with the mob… The students were dragged, beaten with fibre lathis, stomped upon, stripped and humiliated in the most degrading manner.”

The letter further informed that their footwear and phones were seized non-consensually. They were allegedly coerced into false confessions, and one of them was mocked for wearing a mundu, a traditional Kerala attire. The MP described the incident as “custodial brutality” and an “affront to the cultural and linguistic diversity enshrined in our Constitution.” The CPI(M) MP demanded a robust inquiry to find the culprits as well as the return of the belongings of the victims.

Police have responded by stating that an inquiry has been enforced based on the allegations. However, they have been presented with different and contradictory testimonies of the incident. DCP (North) Raja Banthia said,

We have ordered an enquiry into their allegations. However, hawkers have alleged that they came five-six days ago and purchased goods worth Rs 14,000. They paid Rs 4,000 in cash and showed an online payment of Rs 10,000, which was not actually made. When they came again on the 24th, the hawkers identified them, and a scuffle took place.”

Some hawkers brought the two students to the Red Fort police after allegedly thrashing them in the market, according to a source of the police. DCP Banthia said,

“The matter was settled, and both parties left. There was no PCR call or complaint or any representation to supervisory officers regarding this incident by the two students. As far as the allegations of beating by police personnel are concerned, nothing has been substantiated till now. But we are further enquiring into the matter”

However, Sudhin, one of the victims, has another side to tell:

Instead of helping us, he slapped both of us multiple times and made us sit on our knees in front of all the people. He took my friend’s phone and gave it to the locals. My friend’s phone was an iPhone, and he tried to take back the phone and run, but he was beaten a lot and dragged to a police booth.”

He further added, “Another police officer, an ASI [assistant sub-inspector], started hitting us. He removed our lungi and started hitting us and kicking us on our faces and private parts with his boots. We have been in Delhi for a month and did not know Hindi very well.” He said that when his friend struggled to speak, the ASI kicked him, saying, “Talk in Hindi,” Mr Sudhin said. “It is still difficult for him to eat food even now.” He said the police officers at the booth also made fun of them for wearing lungis.

Mr Sudhin was allegedly tortured at the police booth and was coerced into accepting the charges and making a settlement of Rs. 20,000.

Image Source– Just Dial

Divyanshi Dusad

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