AISA seeks release of protesters, accountability for ‘police brutality’ in Delhi

The All India Students Association (AISA) on Tuesday demanded the unconditional release of all protesters arrested during recent demonstrations, accountability for alleged police brutality and compensation for those injured in police action.

Addressing a press conference, AISA national president Neha and DU secretary Anjali presented a report on alleged arrests and police action in Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal and other states. Neha said she had visited Bihar and met student and youth leaders lodged in Beur Jail, including MLA Sandeep Saurabh, former JNUSU president Dhananjay, AISA Bihar secretary Dipankar and Patna University activists Divyam and Saba, besides RYA leaders Vishal Yadav and Pawan Kushwaha.

AISA claimed that Neha also met two injured students at Medanta Hospital in Patna, who the organisation alleged were attacked by police in Siwan. It said one had suffered a serious shoulder injury, while another would require a rod in his left leg.

The organisation claimed Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar told Neha that more than 600 people had been arrested, of whom 355 had been released, while over 300 remained in jail. In West Bengal, AISA claimed that 16 arrests had been made and over 70 FIRs were pending action by the state government.

In Delhi, the organisation alleged targeted police action against vulnerable communities and claimed that people in Jamia Nagar were being issued notices based on retina and facial scanning to identify those present at Jantar Mantar. It said AISA-Jamia had launched a helpline for legal aid.

AISA leaders also met Prashant and Irshad, whom the organisation identified as victims of pellet gun injuries. It claimed Irshad was at risk of permanent blindness, while Prashant had suffered pellet injuries to his arms and torso. “While there are no active detentions reported in Delhi as of now, some questions need to be asked. Who ordered the use of pellet guns? Who were the people in civil clothes beating up students on July 20? Why were hundreds of RAF personnel present at RML hospital when injured students went to file MLCs?”

On examination reforms, AISA criticised the composition of the STF, stating, “The whole STF is made up of people outiside of education expertise. The majority of the body is composed of bureaucrats, an IB Chief and the architect of the Aadhaar debacle, Nandan Nilekani. Outsourcing the problem to bureaucrats is a recipe for disaster.”