New Delhi: The way Delhi Police handled the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) march to Parliament on July 20 is snowballing into a major controversy.
Dozens of student protesters were injured, some of them seriously, when police tried to stop them in their tracks using batons and tear gas shells. Several securitypersons were also injured as the demonstrators retaliated and allegedly resorted to stone pelting.
Several petitions questioning police action have been filed in the Supreme Court as well as high court.
On Wednesday, Delhi High Court directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage, videography and all other relevant records related to the alleged police brutality against protesters two days ago.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia ordered that the material be preserved in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by Delhi Police or the Union government.
The high court has also sought responses from the Central government and Delhi Police on the petitions. The pleas seek an SIT investigation into what they alleged was excessive use of force, registration of FIRs against police personnel, production of deployment and operational records, and disciplinary action against officers involved.
“Issue notice. In the meantime, we direct that the relevant record in relation to the incident as mentioned in the writ, including the CCTV footage, videography, if any, shall be preserved in accordance with the SOP issued by the Delhi Police or by the Union of India,” the high court said in its order, setting September 11 as the next date of hearing.
Senior advocate N Hariharan, who appeared for the petitioners, argued that the protest began peacefully at Jantar Mantar but later witnessed “brutality of the largest measure possible”. Without any warning or whistle, force was used, he alleged, claiming that police action was disproportionate and retributive.
The advocate also alleged that unarmed protesters were “beaten black and blue”, women protesters were molested and more than 90 people sustained injuries.
Delhi Police opposed the petitions, saying that the protest did not remain peaceful with videos showing policemen being injured.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Centre, and Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Senior Advocate SV Raju represented the authorities.
