Was thrashed by Metro security men: JNU student

A 22-year-old Jawaharlal Nehru University student has alleged that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Rajiv Chowk Metro station beat him up and abused him.

Narrating the incident on his Facebook post, Aman Sinha, a Masters student at JNU, said the incident occurred on Thursday around 6.30 pm at the security check point of the station's Gate no 6.

Sinha had his earphones on when CISF personnel were frisking passengers. When told by the personnel to take off his earphones, Sinha refused. This enraged the CISF men, who got into an argument with him as he was reportedly not following protocol expected to be followed by passengers.

Sinha, who was sporting a beard and wearing a kurta, stated that they began abusing him for his attire and was threatened to be "sent to Pakistan". Officials of the paramilitary force, however, vehemently denied the charge.

In his post, Sinha continued: "Then another CISF man came and said you are spoiling the name of the nation, 'Pakistan bhejenge tum mussalay ko aaj.' They dragged me to the security office through the very long passage where there was no CCTV and no public. They started abusing my mother and sister, thrashing and beating me very badly, saying that 'public k samne humara nam kharab kar diya'. I tried to record it which they later made me delete it threw away my phone."

When contacted, CISF said Sinha was only asked to write an apology letter for his behaviour with the security personnel, and was neither 'manhandled' nor 'thrashed'.

"He started yelling and arguing with constables Shoeb and PC Bisht, who were on duty after he was asked to remove the ear phones, which is a normal security drill in the Delhi Metro. He was unwilling and used abusive language after which he was taken to the metro control room," a senior CISF officer said.

As per CCTV records, the officer said, the entire episode lasted about 30 minutes and the student was then allowed to go.

According to Raghubir Lal, CISF's DIG at Delhi Metro, no evidence of physical assault has been found in the CCTV footage. However, one CISF constable was seen trying to push Sinha.

"A detailed enquiry has been ordered that is being monitored by a deputy commandant rank officer. Action will be taken on the basis of the enquiry report," Lal said.