AAP mulls legal option on police excesses on supporters
25 July 2015 11:50 PM GMT
There seems to be a fresh bone of contention emerging between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Delhi Police after party workers visited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday and narrated the “merciless thrashing” by cops during their protest at Anand Parbat earlier this week.
The activists gave vivid narrations of inhuman physical torture inflicted upon them during the demonstration and said they were also beaten up inside the <g data-gr-id="39">lock-ups</g>, not provided lawyers or legal counsel.
Present at the meeting were few senior editors and noted lawyer Indira Jaising, who said Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi would have to take responsibility for what happened. “Bassi is a commander of the police force. He can’t shirk his responsibility,” she added.
The Chief Minister assured them of full support and stated that his government was with all the activists and other <g data-gr-id="40">protestors</g> who were brutally beaten up during the demonstration.
“The government is with you. We will explore all options,” he told a group of 35-40 people, many of whom had suffered fractures in their hands or legs because of what they said was “merciless thrashing” by the cops. “We have to fight injustice, and we will. Don’t worry,” assured Kejriwal.
A protester, who had a sling on his left hand, said cops had dragged AAP activists into the police station and assaulted them in the most barbarous manner.
“The policemen kept telling us to confess that Kejriwal had paid us money to stage this demonstration,” he said.
“When we refused, saying we had come on our own accord, the policemen beat us up.”
Similar accounts were given by two young activists who showed deep wounds and blood clots.
Speaking on the occasion, both Indira Jaising and Arvind Kejriwal were of the view that individual cases against police excesses would be filed.
A video was also shown that indicated how a police van tried to run over AAP leader Dilip Pandey when he was speaking to journalists outside the Rajendra Nagar police station.
“It was a matter of one second. Had I not been pushed out of range by my activists, I would not be alive today. “The funny thing is that instead of registering my FIR against the police driver, cops are trying to frame an FIR against me,” he said.
Next Story
