New Delhi, 14 October (H.S.): Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has raised concerns over allegations of assault and mistreatment of students detained during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi presented several protesters before the media, who alleged that they had been assaulted and mistreated while in police custody. He urged the protesters to preserve videos and other evidence of the alleged incidents to ensure that those responsible could be held accountable.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said the students, young people and other participants in the protest came from diverse communities and social backgrounds but shared a common voice. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the government should not position itself against the voices of the protesters. He asserted that all available evidence would be used in efforts to establish accountability and seek action against those allegedly responsible for the assaults.

Kerala Student Alleges Assault in Police Custody

Athira, a student from Kerala, alleged at the press conference that she was assaulted in custody after questioning the absence of a female police officer on the bus in which she was being transported. She claimed that she was beaten outside the Connaught Place police station, sustaining injuries to her eye and ear. According to Athira, she subsequently lost her hearing in one ear.

Flutist Alleges Police Brutality

Samar, a flautist, also alleged that he was assaulted while in custody. He claimed that he had been detained on October 5 and again on October 11, and that police personnel in plain clothes had assaulted him. He further alleged that the protesters were threatened with batons and stones.

During the press conference, Samar played the melody of the devotional hymn “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye” on his flute. Rahul Gandhi presented the performance as a symbolic response to the alleged mistreatment of the protesters.

NSUI Woman Office-Bearer Alleges Assault

Gandhi also introduced a woman office-bearer of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at the press conference. She alleged that she had been dragged to the Connaught Place police station while in custody and assaulted inside a room. She claimed that the incident left bruises on her legs.

Describing her as a “lioness”, Gandhi praised her courage, saying she had refused to be intimidated despite the alleged assault.

Another Student Alleges Assault During Police Transit

Another student alleged that he was assaulted while being transported in a police vehicle from the Parliament Street police station to Delhi Gate. He also accused police personnel of verbally abusing and threatening him.

The student claimed that he had sustained serious injuries by the time he was being taken to Tihar Jail and was in a semi-conscious state. He called for an investigation into the incident and appropriate action against those found responsible.

Rahul Gandhi Condemns Judicial Custody of CJP Leaders

Earlier on Wednesday, Gandhi had condemned the remand of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody in a post on the social media platform X.

He said that waving the Tricolour during a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar was not a crime and described the jailing of young people for doing so as an act of cowardice.

Rahul Gandhi also emphasised that protests by students, young people, journalists and opposition parties were connected to citizens’ constitutional rights, underscoring the importance of protecting the freedom to express dissent peacefully.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar