Delhi Police Accused of Brutality Against Protesters, Including Minors

For the second consecutive day, Delhi Police cracked down on protesters demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday (October 11). At least 50 protesters, including minors, were detained from Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar and taken to a community centre in Pandwalan Khurd, about 40 kilometres from central Delhi. Speaking to The Wire, the detainees described extreme brutality and abuse by Delhi Police.

The detainees said police officers beat them severely, struck them in their private parts, and seized many of their mobile phones to delete protest photos and videos from their galleries. They were first taken to Chhawla Police Station and later to a community centre in Pandwalan Khurd, where they were kept completely cut off from lawyers and medical care. Even after lawyers arrived, police refused to let them enter, despite clear Supreme Court directions that lawyers and journalists must not be obstructed while performing their duties.

Arjun Unnikrishnan, a 30-year-old lawyer among those detained, said he was with friends at Connaught Place around 4pm when he saw a couple being dragged away, even though no female police officers were present. When Mr. Arjun and his friends protested, police detained them and put them on a bus.

Mr. Arjun said, “We were taken to a deserted and barricaded road near the LIC building in Connaught Place. We were not given any opportunity to take out our phones and ask for help. We were made to sit on the road in five rows of 10 people each, as if we were standing before a firing squad! The group also included teenagers aged 16-17. The police then began identifying those who had earlier taken videos or photos and seizing their phones. When they refused to provide their passwords, the beatings began.”

Mr. Arjun added that police officers took some detainees’ phones and scrolled through their photo galleries while laughing, in what he described as a complete violation of personal privacy. A blue police van surrounded by iron bars then arrived. Mr. Arjun said, “The police officers stood in a line and pushed us from one person to another while slapping us and kicking and punching us in the private parts. The minors in the group were not spared either. There was no way to escape because of the iron cage. The scene was horrific.”

A 20-year-old student detained from Jantar Mantar said around five police officers took turns beating each protester. “I was slapped in the face. When they tried to hit me on the head, I moved away, but I was struck in different parts of my body.” The detainees were not told where the bus was taking them after the beatings. The student said there was no food or water at the community centre. Police also refused to return their phones when they asked for them.

Arjun Unnikrishnan said the bus stopped briefly at Chhawla Police Station, but the police did not explain where they were being taken or why they had been detained. When recording the names and addresses of the minors, officers confirmed that they were underage, indicating that the police knowingly kept them in custody.

After reaching Pandwalan Khurd, the detainees saw that many people had serious injuries. One person’s hand was reportedly broken. The gate of the community centre was closed soon after the first bus arrived at around 7pm. After receiving information about the incident, lawyers Fahad M. Khan and Gaurav Saikewala arrived at the centre after 8pm. However, police refused to let them enter despite clear Supreme Court directions. Fahad Khan said they later called a police control room (PCR) vehicle and followed it inside.

Only after the lawyers gained entry could the injured detainees be sent for medical treatment. Fahad Khan said, “This detention is completely illegal. No legal grounds or notice were provided for the detention, women were detained after sunset, minors were kept in a detention centre, and mobile phones were seized and people were beaten. The police have no explanation for picking people up from central Delhi and leaving them 40 kilometres away.”

He added that another bus carrying at least five women arrived at around 9pm, but it was taken elsewhere because the lawyers were present. Complaints are now being sent to the officer-in-charge of Chhawla Police Station and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Dwarka. The complaints allege illegal detention, assault, seizure of mobile phones, and failure to provide immediate medical treatment despite a detainee suffering a broken hand. The Wire has contacted Delhi Police by email regarding the allegations. The report will be updated if the police respond.