Police file four FIRs amid flak over crackdown on protesters

The Delhi police on Tuesday registered four FIRs against unknown individuals for rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property and other offences during Monday’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Anand Kumar Mishra said there is an ongoing investigation into whether the entire violence was “premeditated and executed in an organised, coordinated” manner. “We have documented the protest through videography and are examining CCTV footage, mobile phone recordings, drone images and footage from body-worn cameras to identify those involved,” Mr. Mishra told mediapersons.

Seeking clarity on the action taken by Delhi Police, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma demanding that a list of FIRs and the names of people detained be made public immediately.

Comparing what transpired at Jantar Mantar on Monday to the action taken by General Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, Mr. Kejriwal while addressing a press conference said, “The police have brutally beaten students without any provocation and fired tear-gas shells. Such brutality was not even unleashed by the British against freedom fighters.”

Later addressing those who continued to protest at Jantar Mantar, the former Chief Minister said the police have foisted false cases against students. “[Prime Minister Narendra] Modi is trying to call protesters terrorists. I want to tell you that the biggest terrorist is Modi. Modi is calling you anti-national but the biggest anti-national is Modi, for playing with the future of students,” he said.

Mr. Kejriwal’s demand for a list of those detained gains significance, with several people frantically looking for their friends and family members a day after the police thwarted the march to Parliament by resorting to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse those gathered.

‘Lathi charge, tear gas’

Sharing details of what transpired, All India Students’ Association (AISA) said at a press conference that thousands of slippers, torn clothes and blood spatter could be seen across Jantar Mantar. The panel included Neha, Ameen and Manish who fasted for 23 days, as well as protesters who were injured during Monday’s protest.

Anjali, Delhi University AISA unit secretary, said, “Yesterday, across central Delhi – Sansad Marg, Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar – there were barricades every 200 to 250 metres. Protesters were trapped in cramped spaces with barricades on both sides. They then [police] lobbed tear gas shells and beat protesters with lathis.”

Tanvi, a student and AISA activist, said, “Not only college students but also parents and school students who joined the protest in their uniforms were beaten.” She added, “The march itself was peaceful. The ruckus was created.”

with inputs from Ashna Butani