New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- A 17-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman protester accused on Sunday that they were assaulted and threatened by people allegedly affiliated with right-wing groups at Connaught Place, amidst tightened security and restrictions in central Delhi.
Separately, protesters alleged a car carrying people with lathis was being driven at high speed near demonstrators, accusing Delhi Police of partiality in handling detentions. Police, however, denied allegations of partiality in handling detentions.
Sources allege that the 17-year-old minor was talking to a media about the ongoing political controversy around Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, when a group of people allegedly chased and thrashed him.
"I was talking against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, saying that he is a puppet of the Prime Minister of India and that he will not let him resign," the boy said, adding that an alleged right wing mob chased and assaulted him after he finished talking to the media.
In another incident, a 34-year-old woman accused a man belonging to a right wing group of detaining her friend, leading to a confrontation.
She also claimed that another individual allegedly from right-wing threatened and assaulted her during the incident while other alleged Bajrang Dal members joined in the assault.
She further alleged that Delhi Police transferred one of the accused to a separate vehicle bearing registration number DLIVC 6234 and claimed that none of the detainees were inside it.
Giving reasons for the decision to move the accused, a senior police officer reportedly said that keeping the person in the same vehicle would lead to a clash among those detained.
"They might get into a clash inside the bus if we keep the alleged person in the same bus," the officer said.
Meanwhile, in another incident, some protesters alleged that a car carrying people affiliated with right wing groups was found to be with lathis and was being driven at high speed near the demonstration site.
According to them, one demonstrator tried to hit the vehicle to stop it by questioning why a car allegedly carrying people with lathis was being driven so fast. The protesters accused Delhi Police of protecting right wing supporters and taking action against demonstrators.
They questioned why people allegedly carrying lathis or involved in assaults were not being detained in the same manner as protesters.
A senior Delhi Police official denied allegations of partiality in the detention process, rejecting claims that right wing supporters were being given preferential treatment.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.