AMN /
Delhi Police is facing flak from different quarters following a video which have become viral, showing male police constables can be seen purportedly assaulting protesters, including women, demonstrating over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula near the RSS head office in New Delhi.
The video went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions. Two journalists, who have alleged that they were beaten up while covering the protest on January 30, claimed that the police action was “unprovoked”.
Asked about the matter, a senior police official said that the video was being “examined”. “Top-level officers are checking that video as well as the one shot by police officers present there,” he said.
In the 30-second clip, apart from police, some men who are not in uniform can also be seen beating up a youth. A constable is seen dragging a female protester by her hair and pushing her down.
In the video, a constable is seen dragging a woman protester by hair and pushing her down when she remonstrated against the assault on a fellow demonstrator.
Reacting to the video, Delhi police Commissioner BS Bassi said he has directed senior officials to investigate the matter and see if there were any “indiscretions”.
“As soon as I was informed about the video, I spoke to Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deepak Mishra, who later asked Joint Commissioner (Central range) S K Gautam to look into the matter.
“We will see if there was any indiscretion. We shall also talk to some of the eyewitnesses apart from analysing the content of the video,” Bassi said.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged BJP and RSS workers were also involved in assaulting the students along with police.
Congress called it a “brutal assualt” by police on a group of “unarmed protesters” and demanded action against guilty policemen. .
Lashing out over the video, AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey tweeted, “What a new low in Indian politics. Male cops beaten up female protesters, RSS workers too joined DP in this brutality (sic).”
Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal said the incident was “unacceptable” and questioned the absence of women constables to control the demonstration that was organised by the Joint Action Committee For Social Justice.