NSUI President Files PIL Over Alleged Assaults During Delhi Protest
NSUI President Vinod Jakhar moves Delhi High Court seeking an SIT probe into alleged assaults on citizens during the October 10 protest in Connaught Place.
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a high-level probe into a series of alleged assaults on members of the public during a protest held on October 10. NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a fair, independent, and time-bound investigation into the violence that reportedly unfolded in Connaught Place and near Jantar Mantar.
The petition, presented by Advocate Vimal Tyagi, calls for the immediate identification of those involved in the violence and the preservation of crucial electronic evidence, including CCTV footage from the affected areas.
Chaos in Connaught Place: What Happened?
According to the plea, the incidents occurred around 2 pm on October 10. The protest was organized to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. As people moved toward Jantar Mantar, they were allegedly intercepted and surrounded by groups of unidentified men dressed in plain clothes.
The petition claims that the violence was not limited to protesters; even passers-by were reportedly targeted. The alleged assaults took place at several key locations, including:
- The Inner and Outer Circles of Connaught Place
- Near the Indira Chowk signboard
- Outside Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan
- Adjoining footpaths and Sansad Marg
Graphic Evidence: Video Recordings Reveal Brutality
The PIL relies heavily on nine video recordings currently in the public domain. These recordings allegedly depict a harrowing scene of chaos and physical aggression. The petitioner highlights several specific instances captured on film:
- Physical Assaults: Individuals being surrounded, pushed, punched, kicked, and dragged by groups of men.
- Specific Attacks: One video purportedly shows a man being held in a neck-lock, while another depicts a youth being forced to the ground and assaulted.
- Targeting Media: The plea claims a woman journalist was targeted when a man lunged toward her camera while she was attempting to record the events.
- Violent Strikes: Footage allegedly shows a person being held against a railing and struck on the head and upper body.
Questions Over Police Presence and Conduct
A major component of the PIL is the scrutiny of the police response. The petitioner raised serious concerns regarding the presence of uniformed police personnel at the scene while these assaults were allegedly taking place. The plea points to footage where police vehicles, barricades, and personnel were visible in the immediate vicinity of the violence.
Crucially, the petition refers to footage where one of the individuals allegedly involved in the assaults is seen being escorted by a uniformed official and later standing between two police personnel. This has led to questions regarding whether the perpetrators were detained or if they were being protected.
Demand for an Independent SIT Probe
Given the allegations involving the conduct of local law enforcement, the petitioner argues that the investigation should not be left solely to the local police units present at the scene. Instead, the plea seeks the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The proposed SIT structure includes:
- Leadership: An officer not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), drawn from outside the New Delhi district.
- Supervision: An officer not below the rank of Joint Commissioner of Police.
- Accountability: Periodic status reports to be submitted before the High Court.
The petitioner also requested the immediate preservation of CCTV footage from noon to 6 pm on October 10 from various locations, including Connaught Place, Janpath, Jantar Mantar Road, and nearby Metro stations such as Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, and Bara Dudhwala.
The Delhi High Court bench, led by Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre, noted that the Supreme Court is already seized of the matter and has called for affidavits from the Union government. The High Court has listed the petition for a hearing scheduled for tomorrow.