NSUI alleges false FIR against 18 members after protest seeking CEC's resignation

NSUI has alleged that Delhi Police filed false FIRs against 18 members after the Parliament Street protest turned violent. The police have registered four cases, while the student body says the action is meant to intimidate its workers.

In Short

• NSUI said Delhi Police booked 18 members after Monday's protest violence
• The organisation denied allegations that a protester attacked a CISF constable
• Police said four FIRs covered rioting, defacement and obstructing public servants

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday alleged that the Delhi Police registered a “false FIR” against 18 of its members following violence during the student organisation’s protest in the Parliament Street area a day earlier.

NSUI claimed its members had been accused of attacking a police officer’s hand with a knife, strongly denying the charge. The organisation said the officer sustained the injury during the detention of its members amid the police barricading.

The student body alleged that the cases were being used to put pressure on and intimidate its members, and criticised the Delhi Police for registering the FIRs. “NSUI will not be intimidated by fake cases. Stop filing cases and stop scaring our members,” the organisation said, adding that it would continue to stand by its members and “will not be afraid or bow down.”

FOUR FIRs REGISTERED

The Delhi Police has registered four FIRs in connection with the alleged violence during Monday’s NSUI protest, officials said. The cases relate to the alleged attack on a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, rioting, defacement and obstruction of public servants.

As many as 18 people were arrested in connection with the alleged violence and produced before a court, police said.

According to officials, a case was registered after a CISF constable, identified as Bikram Kumar, was allegedly attacked with a knife while he was taking a protester away from near a barricade.

The constable suffered a minor injury to his right elbow and was taken to RML Hospital for medical examination and treatment. The accused protester was detained and legal action was initiated, officials said.

POLICE EXAMINING CCTV

The other FIRs concern alleged rioting, defacement and obstruction of public servants from discharging their duties.

Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine the role of individual protesters, officials said.

The action followed a protest by NSUI workers demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

PROTEST OVER SIR

The protesters had staged a symbolic “living dead” demonstration near the NSUI headquarters on Raisina Road before attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar.

NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar led the protest and demanded the resignation and arrest of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission had failed to address concerns over “vote chori”.

The protesters carried placards and raised slogans including “vote ki chori nahi chalegi, janta ki awaaz nahi dabegi”.

Monday’s protest came amid a series of demonstrations in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police had also registered FIRs over Friday’s demonstrations under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to disobedience of lawful orders, obstruction and assault of public servants.

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