Latest news with #IndianPeopleinSolidaritywithPalestine
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Protesters outside Israel embassy detained for several hours, FIR registered
Protesters demonstrating in front of the Israel embassy on Monday claimed that they were harassed and assaulted by the police while being detained at Mandir Marg police station for several hours. The protesters, who were from the Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP) group, were protesting against Israel's attacks on Gaza and burned a photograph of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with a flag of Israel. Suraj Raut (25), a protester, said that the group was picked up by the police at around 4 PM on Monday. However, one of their fellow protesters began developing a breathing issue during the detainment. As the group was piled onto a police van, the protesters allegedly tried bringing the police's attention to the woman's health issues but to no avail. 'She began gasping for air while sitting inside the van but the van was driven around different areas of Delhi for at least 40-45 minutes,' said Raut. Ultimately the woman and two other women protesters were allegedly dropped off at a private hospital in Pandav Nagar to get treated. The police have registered an FIR against the protesters under BNS sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). 'We told the protesters to leave the area due to the embassy's security concerns, however when they refused to comply with police instructions and directives, they had to be forcibly removed from the area. They also refused to cooperate with the police when asked to disclose their details. The protesters claimed that they're students of JNU. We are currently verifying this and will take it up with the University's administration, if it's true,' said DCP New Delhi, Devesh Mahla. The DCP further emphasised that the police did not use brute force nor damage the property seized from the protesters. The group was divided in two and sent to two different police stations. 'In Tughlak Road police station, the police seized cameras from some freelance photographers who had come to cover the protests… the group was also subjected to casteist and misogynistic slurs,' claimed Raut. By 7 PM all protesters had been assimilated in Mandir Marg police station. Inside the lock up, the group continued their protest, this time adding their demands to be given back their cameras and for their fellow protester's hospital bills to be paid by the police. Meanwhile, two of the protesters were allegedly taken to a separate area and interrogated, claimed the protesters. 'They asked us personal questions ranging from what our parents do to where we study and which place we come from,' said Priyambada Sharma (30), an activist with the IPSP. 'They then asked us questions about how big our organisation is, how we recruit members and since when we have been associated with this group,' added Vishal Kumar (30), another activist. The protesters were let go at around 1 AM, they said, after a sizable crowd had gathered to protest against the detention in front of the Mandir Marg police station. On Tuesday Raut said that they planned on getting Medico-Legal Cases (MLCs) recorded for the injuries they sustained during their detainment.
The Wire
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Delhi: Pro-Palestine Protest Met With Force; Detainees Allege Police Brutality, Harassment
New Delhi: The Delhi Police carried out lathi charge to disperse students and activists who had gathered to protest in front of the Israel Embassy in the national capital on Monday, June 23. Organised by the "Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine" (IPSP) in front of the Israeli Embassy, the protesters condemned the ongoing genocide in Palestine and to express solidarity with the "Global March to Gaza." It was also joined by the Revolutionary Workers' Party of India, Disha Students' Organization and Naujawan Bharat Sabha. Protesters burned photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and the Israeli national flag, and raising the slogans 'Free Palestine' and 'End the genocide in Gaza'. Protesters burn Israel flag, Trump and Netanyahu's posters outside Israel Embassy in Delhi. Photo: Vishal Students and activists who participated in the protest have alleged that the police physically assaulted them. Male police officers allegedly touched and harassed female protesters and detained them, which is against the law. Male protesters were allegedly slapped, had their clothes torn and were treated with extreme brutality by the police. Protesters also alleged that the police used casteist and communal slurs against them. Rauf, a visually impaired person associated with the Disha student organisation, was also allegedly subjected to police brutality. The protesters claimed that despite informing the police multiple times that Rauf is blind, police continued to assault him. Speaking to The Wire, Rauf said, "The Modi government is brutally repressing every pro-Palestine voice in India through its police and goons of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). A few days ago activists of IPSP and BDS India were brutally beaten and almost lynched in Pune by a mob led by local BJP leaders when they were protetsing outside Domino's outlet Pune." Around 5 PM, the police detained all the protesters and took them to Mandir Marg and Tughlak Road police stations. 'Beaten so badly, I nearly fainted' One of the protesters, Srishti, who suffers from respiratory issues, alleged that she was brutally beaten and detained by the police. This was despite fellow protesters warning the police about her health condition. As Srishti's condition worsened, she had to eventually be taken to RLKC Hospital. Srishti said, "When we reached outside the Israeli Embassy and began our peaceful protest, there were no female police personnels present. The male officers, some in civil clothes, started dragging and assaulting protesters, including women, to break the human chain we had formed. We have video evidence of this brutality. I was beaten so badly that I nearly fainted.' "I told the police I was unwell and that the protest was peaceful, but they didn't listen. My right knee got badly hurt, and then I started struggling to breathe. The bus was moving for 40-45 minutes during which I started fainting. The female constables refused to help and mocked me, saying I was acting. When they realised my condition was serious, they left me outside the hospital". Around 7 PM, the police gathered all the protesters at the Mandir Marg police station and seized their cameras and mobile phones. At that time, the police collected the residential addresses, mobile numbers and other personal information of all 30 protesters. Some of the protesters alleged that the police threatened to interrogate them further. Meanwhile, some of the protesters said that they were interrogated by the special cell of the police. Priyamvada, a protester, claimed, "The Delhi Police are carrying out brutal repression on the protesters. During the protest, the protesters were detained. The illegal custody and long interrogation of women activists after 6 PM shows how the Modi government has intensified its crackdown. The Modi government has clearly taken a stand in support of Israel and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.'
