Despite Centre's assurance, Delhi Police still summoning protesters, says Congress legal aid member
Days after the student organisation (CJP) ended its agitation at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police continued to summon protesters until Thursday afternoon to explain their presence at the protest site, according to Rishav Ranjan, a member of the Congress party's legal cell involved in providing legal aid.
Later on Thursday, the Delhi government issued an order withdrawing all cases against the protesters, in line with an assurance given by Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh during a meeting with a two-member CJP delegation on July 25.
Mr. Ranjan stated that a helpline launched by the Congress party has received around 300 calls, including 50 from young girls and women reporting rape and death threats for participating in the protests.
He said the Supreme Court’s July 28 order, which directed the immediate release of all minors arrested in connection with the demonstrations and restrained the police from taking coercive action against students without criminal antecedents, was not being implemented.
“The withdrawal of FIRs is effective only in Bihar, especially not in Delhi. The threats by the State not to join the protest and not to do politics around the students’ issue continue. Today, three individuals from Haryana were brought to the Parliament Street police station for questioning without any notice. One of them was blindfolded and brought here; when we intervened, he was let off near the Karnal by-pass around 3.30 pm by the police,” Mr. Ranjan said.
He added that he was working in tandem with the CJP legal team, and other independent lawyers were also helping detained persons.
Despite the Central government’s assurance, juveniles were released from Bhagalpur in Bihar and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday night, and several others were yet to be released, he said.
As the interim Supreme Court order permits authorities to proceed with the investigation of existing FIRs, the police in some states are acting arbitrarily under its guise, Mr. Ranjan alleged.
“Many girls are getting calls from right-wing influencers asking why they joined the protest. Their names are part of a list circulated by these handles. They are being harassed and threatened. There is clear evidence online. This needs serious action by the State,” he said, adding that the Supreme Court will be informed about such incidents.
A delegation also plans to meet the Delhi Police Commissioner.
“We need to seriously lodge FIRs to help these women. They need urgent guidance and protection. The State has to take action and make an example out of them,” he added.
Mr. Ranjan said there were apprehensions that the detentions and summons were based on images captured by Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras installed at the protest site.
