Petitions in Supreme Court allege police excesses during Delhi CEC protests

Those detained during Delhi protests on October 10, 11 and 12 have filed petitions in the Supreme Court alleging police excesses and appealing for an independent inquiry into the police action, preservation of CCTV footage and bodycams and return of their phones and other belongings. The detainees alleged they were dragged, slapped and assaulted by Delhi Police personnel.

The Lawyers Association for Constitution (LAFC) filed a petition in the Supreme Court raising concerns over “serious and widespread police excesses” against persons protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi on October 10 and 11.

The petitioners, including citizens, advocates, women, minors and journalists, claimed they were subjected to physical assault, abuse and illegal detention. “Several persons were detained in areas where Section 163 of the BNSS had not been promulgated; several were not informed of the grounds of their detention or were detained by purported police personnel displaying no name tags on their uniform; and many others were denied access to legal counsel,” the petition mentioned.

The plea claimed women were detained after 6 p.m.; their mobile phones forcibly taken away, and some were beaten and sexually assaulted by the Delhi Police personnel and some “hooligan elements, while the police remained mute spectators to these crimes.”