Jaipur, 20 October (H.S.): Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and other party leaders spent Monday night staging a dharna inside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate, demanding registration of an FIR against a Delhi Police woman constable accused of assaulting NSUI leader Ritu Barala.

Dotasra, Barala and other Congress leaders reached the commissionerate on Monday evening after police at the Moti Dungri police station received their complaint but did not register an FIR. The leaders continued their protest through the night and slept in the corridor of the commissionerate.

Dotasra said the leaders would leave only after an FIR was registered on Barala's complaint. He said police could register a case against Congress leaders for obstructing official work, but they would not withdraw their protest without action on their demand.

There cannot be two sets of laws in the country, Dotasra said, questioning why an FIR could be registered in a non-BJP-ruled state but not in Rajasthan, which is governed by the BJP. He said the Congress would continue its demand for justice.

A large number of Congress workers gathered outside the commissionerate, prompting police to close its main gate and tighten security.

The protest followed allegations by Barala, an NSUI leader from Rajasthan, that Delhi Police woman constable Chanchal Yadav assaulted her inside a bus carrying detained protesters during a demonstration in New Delhi on October 13. Barala alleged that the constable grabbed her by the neck, pushed her onto a seat, scratched her face and slapped her.

The demonstration near Rajiv Chowk Metro station had been organised by the NSUI to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called for legal action over the alleged assault on Barala and another woman, Athira from Kerala. He said a Zero FIR had been registered in Kerala and that the party would pursue action against the police personnel concerned.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Dotasra had also condemned the alleged assault and demanded action against those responsible.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar