At least nine student organisations from Jamia Millia Islamia, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the “illegal abduction, enforced disappearances, and brutal custodial torture” of student activists associated with left collectives in Delhi.
In their statement, AIRSO, AISA, AISF, CRJD, DISSC, Fraternity Movement, MSU, MSW, and SFI alleged that the students were “stripped naked, beaten, electrocuted, and subjected to degrading treatment, including having their heads submerged in toilet bowls.”
The statement further claimed that police issued horrific threats of sexual violence, particularly against female activists, warning them they would be raped using rods.
“Even in 2009, Samrat Singh was falsely implicated under the UAPA and Arms Act, tortured in custody, and imprisoned for nearly five years—only to be eventually acquitted of all charges by the court,” the statement noted.
Samrat Singh, a psychologist and social worker, is among the seven detainees. While six of them have since been released, Rudra, a student of Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, remains missing as of Saturday following a series of allegedly illegal detentions and custodial torture carried out by the Delhi Police’s Special Branch.
The six previously detained include Gurkirat, Gaurav, and Gaurang from Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (bsCEM); Baadal and Ehtemam from Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization; and Samrat.
“Today, Samrat is once again being targeted for his unwavering commitment to people’s causes,” said the Jamia groups.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
