India, July 23 -- A series of videos circulating on social media alleging police brutality and misconduct by Delhi Police during a recent protest by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has sparked widespread controversy. Delhi Police has rejected allegations that it used excessive force against protesters. The videos, which have gone viral in recent days, appear to show clashes between protesters and police, with several social media users alleging that officers used disproportionate force, including against women demonstrators. One video is captioned, "Women Are Safe?", along with a reference to the Jantar Mantar protest site and the date of the demonstration. Another carries a Hindi caption accusing the police of "goonda-giri" (thuggery). One of the videos also contains allegations that a police personnel sexually harassed a female protester during the demonstration. Delhi Police, however, said it was unaware of any such video or incident and denied knowledge of the allegation.
The controversy intensified after Delhi Police responded to the viral videos by alleging that protesters had made false accusations. Police said it would pursue legal action over the alleged misinformation, shifting the focus from the original claims to the conduct of the protesters. To support its position, Delhi Police released its own video, which it said showed protesters attacking police personnel during the demonstration. The force has cited the footage while defending its actions and accusing protesters of levelling false allegations. However, the police video has itself drawn criticism on social media, with users arguing that it also appears to show officers using excessive force. Competing videos from both sides have fuelled conflicting narratives online, prompting debate over what transpired during the protest.
The circulation of multiple videos has also led to speculation over which footage is authentic, whether the clips present the full sequence of events, and when they were recorded and shared. None of the allegations could be independently verified. No FIR or police complaint has been registered so far in connection with either the alleged sexual harassment or the alleged false accusations made by protesters or police. The incident has reignited debate on women's safety, policing and the handling of protests across Indian social media. Many users have criticised Delhi Police's response, arguing that it did not adequately address the seriousness of the sexual harassment allegations.
Some protesters have also accused the police of using its video to justify a crackdown on demonstrators while avoiding a direct response to the allegations of sexual misconduct. Others have alleged that the force is attempting to cover up police misconduct. Delhi Police has not announced any internal inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations or identified any police personnel in connection with the purported incident. Protesters have demanded that police register a comprehensive FIR and investigate their allegations promptly. For now, the competing claims continue to dominate social media, with both sides accusing each other of spreading false narratives.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.