[Anti-CAA Protests] Police Attacked' Peaceful Protestors, Prevented Constitutional Rights': Chairman Of Delhi Minorities Committee Writes To CJI Seeking Action

In a letter addressed to CJI SA Bobde, Dr. Khan has condemned the manner in which the Police allegedly tried to mute the dissenting voices, by unnecessarily imposing Section 144 and resorting to excessive use of force.

"Right to freedom of peaceful expression and protests is a fundamental and constitutional right of every India citizen. During the current peaceful protests against NRC/CAA across the country, Police behavior in various states has been highly objectionable, from banning protests despite their peaceful nature, clamping Section 144, closing down internet and mobile services totally unnecessarily only to prevent people for exercising their constitutional right," he said.

Dr. Khan has asserted that there are sufficient videos, indicating how the police "attacked" peaceful protestors and even went on to raid their houses and hostels, traversing every limit set by the Constitution. He has asked the CJI to take suo moto cognizance of such illegal actions and prosecute the erring police officers, apart from issuing guidelines to deal with such instances in the future.

"Police were not content with this but went much beyond by attacking peaceful protesters as in Jamia Islamia on 15 December 2019 and later in many places like Meerut, Bijnor, Seemapuri in Delhi, Varanasi, Mangalore etc., where they not only broke protesters arms, legs and skull and killed about two dozen protesters but also invaded private homes smashing whatever they found. There are dozens of videos of police brutality doing the rounds-some may be seen on the facebook page of Boycott NRC. I am attaching herewith an incomplete list of such evidences.

It is my earnest and respectful request to you to take suo moto notice of this police behavior in many parts of the country, with a view to not only punish the erring police officers during the current unrest but also to set an example of how Hon'ble Supreme Court will deal with such behavior in future to protect citizens' and human rights," the letter read.

The letter comes after the Supreme Court's order dated December 17, 2019 whereby it declined to entertain pleas seeking enquiry into police atrocities against University students. A bench headed by CJI SA Bobde had asked the petitioners to approach the concerned High Courts.

Subsequently, pleas were filed before the Delhi High Court as well as the Allahabad High Court, seeking judicial interference into the alleged incidents of police violence. The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central Government, Delhi Government and Delhi Police, seeking their replies in the matter. The Allahabad High Court on the other hand has directed the National Human Rights Commission to investigate into the alleged violence that perpetrated in Aligarh Muslim University.

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