The Delhi Commission for Women is deeply dismayed at the recent developments in Delhi University. The Commission has come across shocking video footages and news reports wherein Delhi Police officers are seen mercilessly beating and punching women protestors. The Commission is of the view that these attacks on women protestors by policemen may also amount to molestation and need to be severely punished.
The image of Delhi Police officers beating and misbehaving with women protestors are resonating across Delhi and India and have severely damaged the image of Delhi Police. It is a classic case of protectors turning abusers. Further, the Commission is aghast to read newspaper reports alleging that Delhi Police claims it does not know who ordered the lathi charge on the protestors. Such statements raise suspicions about politicization of the Delhi Police and the matter needs to be investigated urgently.
A similar incident occurred in Delhi last year when peaceful women protesters for the missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed were manhandled by the Delhi Police. It is a matter of great shame that till date an FIR has not been registered against the Police Officer on allegations of molestation during the protest by a lady protestor. The erstwhile Delhi Police Commissioner, despite requests of the Commission, chose to turn a blind eye on the incident. The recent incident in Delhi University appears to be direct fallout of Delhi Police refusing to fix responsibility and take strict action against its officers. If proper action would have been taken against the officer manhandling the lady protestor during the earlier protests for the missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, a strong message would have been delivered and other police officers would have abstained from such illegal activities.
In view of the above, the Commission has instituted an enquiry into the matter. With regard to the same, please provide the following information:
Number of police officers (male and female separately) deployed in and around Ramjas College and Moris Nagar Police Station for the said protests.
Names and Designations of the Police Officers clearly identifiable in the videos and photographs – who were seen punching and manhandling women protestors. Please inform the action taken against each one of them.
Name and Designation of the officer(s) leading the entire police action.
Name and Designation of the officer(s) who ordered lathi charge on the protestors.
Process undertaken generally by Delhi Police before ordering lathi charge on protestors. Please inform the designations of officers who are informed about the same/ permissions are sought from? Please provide copies of all standing orders/ rules in this regard.
Whether the prescribed process was followed in this case? If yes, please provide details of officer from whom permission was sought before ordering lathi charge. If no, please provide reasons for the same.
Copies of FIRs and complaints (if any) registered in the matter.
Steps that will be taken by Delhi Police to ensure that such incidents never occur in the future.
Please provide the above information latest by 4 March 2017.
(Swati Maliwal)
To
Joint Commissioner of Police Northern Range Delhi Police
