New Delhi, 21 August (H.S.):

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) office of the Parliament Street police station along with student protester Sahil Lochav, who was seriously injured during a student agitation, and his mother to seek registration of an FIR. He later staged a sit-in outside the office in support of the demand.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi alleged, “Today, I went to the DCP office on Parliament Street to get an FIR registered against the police brutality inflicted on Sahil Lochav. During the ‘Parliament Chalo’ march at Jantar Mantar on July 20, police attacked Sahil, who was participating in a peaceful protest, with pellet guns. Several students like Sahil sustained serious injuries. Sahil, who was injured by pellets, is now at risk of losing the sight in one of his eyes. Sahil’s mother has been repeatedly visiting the police station seeking registration of an FIR, but she was not even allowed to do so. This is how the Constitution and constitutional rights are being trampled upon. Such brutality against peaceful protesters is not only illegal but also a serious crime.”

He further alleged that Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah had not attended Parliament for 19 days and questioned why the country had not been informed about who ordered the use of pellet guns against students or why such force was allegedly used against young protesters.

Rahul Gandhi said, “Why are you so afraid of justice? This fear shows that you are admitting your crime.” He alleged that students were subjected to lathi-charge, tear gas and pellet-gun fire, leaving several young people seriously injured. He further alleged that women protesters were subjected to inappropriate behaviour and beaten with sticks and batons.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he had not made any statement on the matter, while the Union Home Minister had continued to evade accountability.

Rahul Gandhi said injured students such as Sahil Lochav were not alone and asserted that the Congress party stood with every young person affected by the incident. He said their voices would not be suppressed and that the party would fight with full force to secure justice for them.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar