JNU Students and Teachers Union

Students, Teachers and Journalists.

New Delhi

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on April over the violent actions of Delhi Police which used brute force on students, teachers, academics and journalists during a peaceful rally organised in in New Delhi on March 23, 2017.

The JNU Teachers Association and JNU Students Union had called for a march on March 23, 2017 from the JNU campus to Parliament Street in New Delhi to protest against various issues affecting them. The march had participation of thousands of students and teachers from JNU and other universities and colleges in Delhi. As the march proceeded from JNU campus to Parliament, with due permission already granted by the police, the police set up barricades near the INA Market bus stop to prevent them from continuing their march.

There was a huge contingent of Delhi Police personnel including the Rapid Action Force with water canon vehicles. The police suddenly started using force on the peaceful protesters and let loose water canons on them. The protestors were beaten up by the police using lathis.

As evident from the videos available on media and social media, the police used brutal force and selectively targeted protesters. Women were manhandled and in some instances their dresses were torn by the police who were trying to forcefully disperse them. Journalists, who were covering the incident, were also attacked. Many students were detained by the police and later released.

However, the Delhi Police have filed a ‘zero FIR’ and there are apprehensions that the police will implicate the student leaders in the FIR.