Several journalists, including three women, alleged of being "molested" and "manhandled" by the police while covering the event.
Things turned ugly when hundreds of students and teachers from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were stopped from marching to Parliament with their various demands, including the ongoing compulsory attendance row by the Delhi Police. The police lathicharged them and used water cannons. Several journalists, including three women, alleged of being "molested" and "manhandled" by the police while covering the event.
The "Padyatra", organised by the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) and the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA), started from the university campus and stopped near South Delhi's Sanjay Park citing "lack of permission" to move ahead. Clashes broke out between the protesters and the police when the former refused to stop. Police then resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons on the agitators, leaving many of them injured.
"A completely peaceful march by JNU teachers and students was greeted by water cannons and then lathi charge by the Delhi Police. Several students, including female students, were beaten and bundled into a bus and were taken to the Defence Colony police station," said JNU professor and former JNUTA president Ayesha Kidwai. As many as 23 students were detained, the police confirmed. They were later released following a medical examination.
A video of police thrashing a female photographer even as she kept telling them that she was from the media also went viral on the social media. "While a female journalist was molested by an SHO, another female cameraperson was brutally thrashed by the police while she was trying to capture the incident. Her camera was also snatched," said one of the journalists. The female journalist later filed a police complaint against the station house officer.
Hundreds of students continued their sit-in at Sanjay Park demanding the release of their fellow students by the time this report was filed. Several political leaders including CPI's Brinda Karat, Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar Ansari and RJD MP Manoj Jha rushed to the spot to extend their solidarity.
Policespeak
The Delhi Police claimed that the students were informed that the protest would not be allowed because of the ongoing visit of the German President. Later they were granted permission to take out a "peaceful" march till INA market. "However, the students turned violent, broke barricades and assaulted the policemen on duty. 41 personnel were hurt," Dependra Pathak, Special CP said.
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