Delhi Protests: Was Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas ‘assaulted’ by Delhi Police? CPI(M) shares video | Today’s news
Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas was allegedly assaulted by the Delhi Police during protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), claimed on Sunday. The party shared a video on X that appeared to show Brittas injured in a police van, although it is unclear whether the footage was taken on Saturday or Sunday, when the MP was detained on both days.
The video shows John Brittas half-lying on the steps of a police van with a red-stained cloth covering part of his face. Another person appears to be assisting him before the police official helps the MP move from the vehicle to the autorickshaw.
“He was later dropped by the side of the road, visibly injured and in distress.” CPI(M) wrote X in his post and added, “DELHI POLICE CROSSED ALL LIMITS!”
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The CPI(M) alleged that the Delhi Police assaulted a Rajya Sabha MP and shared a video that appeared to show him injured. The footage does not say when or how he was injured, so the circumstances remain unclear.
According to the article, Brittas was detained on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, he was among the protesters who marched from Connaught Place’s Inner Circle and Rajiv Chowk towards Jantar Mantar.
The CJP and opposition parties accused the Chief Election Commissioner of irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. They demanded his resignation because of these allegations.
Brittas appears to be half lying on the steps of the police van with a red stained cloth covering part of his face. Another person helps him and the police official helps him move to the autorickshaw.
Delhi protests: John Brittas detained during police crackdown
John Brittas was among those detained on Sunday while marching towards Jantar Mantar from Inner Circle Connaught Place and Rajiv Chowk. Police sources confirmed his arrest. A CPI(M) MP was also detained during Saturday’s demonstrations.
The protesters raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and several opposition parties are demanding his resignation.
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Footage showed security personnel detaining protesters, with some protesters being dragged to police buses despite resisting the action. The CJP announced another demonstration for Sunday at 10 am after the authorities prevented its planned rally on Saturday.
More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Delhi, according to information provided about the security arrangements.
The SFI claims its leaders and members have been attacked
Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and other student organizations were also detained while marching towards Jantar Mantar from Rajiv Chowk.
In a statement, the SFI said its All India President Adarsh M Saji, Delhi State Secretary Sooraj Elamon, Central Executive Committee member Abhijith Manilal and hundreds of its members were attacked and detained.
“You can see blood pouring from Adarsh’s forehead in the video. They will not be forgotten. We will still take to the streets. Protests will multiply in every corner of the country!” the statement said.
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In a separate video, Saji questioned the police action, saying the protesters did not understand their crime because they were demonstrating peacefully.
Why are protesters demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation?
The CJP and opposition parties have accused Kumar of irregularities in the SIR voter list and are demanding his resignation. The Delhi Police denied permission for the planned rally at Jantar Mantar.
On Saturday, police detained more than 7,000 protesters at various locations as protesters tried to reach the protest site. Among those detained were CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
Former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were also detained when they tried to join the protest.
The CJP subsequently vowed to continue her agitation until Kumar resigned, despite police restrictions in parts of New Delhi and Central Delhi.
CPI(M) MLAs criticize detention of CJP leaders at Delhi airport
Brittas and fellow CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP AA Rahim criticized the detention of CJP founder Dipke and other leaders after they arrived from Mumbai on Saturday. The three leaders were reportedly detained on board their flight after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
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“The central government is doing all this because they are afraid. The police could have arrested them as soon as they came out of the airport. They could not have escaped from inside the airport. There was no need to detain them from inside the plane,” Brittas said.
He also criticized the reported detention of journalists and curtailment of their reporting, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah acted to protect Kumar.
Rahim alleged that CJP activists and protesters who resisted the curtailment of demonstrations or the removal of their phones were “brutally tortured”.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged attack on Brittas remain unclear. The video shared by the CPI(M) does not establish when the incident took place or independently verify how the MP sustained his injuries.
