By Ghazala Ahmad
The Delhi Police allegedly detained and assaulted students and activists, including women, on Tuesday evening for singing songs and raising slogans demanding electoral accountability at Connaught Place, according to the Students’ Federation of India (SFI).
SFI All India President Adarsh M Saji and Delhi State Secretary Sooraj Elamon were among several activists detained after police forcibly broke up a cultural gathering near Gate No. 7 of Connaught Place around 6 pm.
Women activists alleged that police personnel manhandled them and used force to disperse the gathering.
SFI also alleged that people associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked activists in the presence of police, who failed to intervene.
The gathering had been organised by progressive cultural groups Jana Natya Manch and Dastak, with participants performing songs and raising questions over alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Speaking to Maktoob, SFI All India Joint Secretary and former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh said the gathering was a cultural programme and not a protest.
“A call for a cultural event was given by Dastak and Natya Manch. It was not a protest, just a gathering. People were just starting to gather when the Delhi Police surrounded us and detained the male members,” Ghosh said.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
