A Supreme Court-appointed committee will hear claims about violence at Jantar Mantar on October 29 and 30. The five-member panel, led by Justice R Subhash Reddy, will record evidence regarding the July protests. People can visit the office or use the online portal to submit their complaints and supporting documents.
The Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee probing alleged violence during the July protests at Jantar Mantar will hold a two-day sitting on October 29 and 30, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing officials.
The committee will hear affected people and record evidence related to the alleged use of pellet guns, targeted violence, harassment of female protesters, excessive force and property damage by both sides.
The proceedings will begin at 11 am at the committee's office at Shiksha Sadan, 17 Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi, officials told PTI.
Members of the public and people affected by the violence can visit the office between 11.30 am and 3 pm on October 29 and 30 to submit complaints or representations and present evidence. They must carry valid identity documents.
The five-member panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy. The Supreme Court constituted the committee while hearing several petitions alleging police excesses against student protesters during the agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party. There were also counter-allegations of violence against police personnel.
The panel also includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L R Bishnoi.
To encourage wider participation and protect vulnerable witnesses, the committee has launched an online portal, hpec.nic.in. Affected people, witnesses and other stakeholders can use the prescribed formats available on the portal to upload statements, representations and supporting documents.
"The online portal has been developed in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions to safeguard the interests of vulnerable witnesses and facilitate the submission of material by affected persons and other concerned stakeholders," an earlier public notice said.
The Supreme Court has directed the committee to provide full protection to vulnerable witnesses, keep their identities confidential and maintain complete secrecy over their statements and evidence.
The Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20 saw violent clashes between security personnel and protesters. Police used tear gas shells and baton charges to disperse the crowd, according to PTI.
Some students were admitted to hospitals with injuries possibly caused by pellet guns. The student-led agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and later spread to several cities. It was called off on July 25 after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
The committee's two-day sitting will allow affected people and other members of the public to submit complaints and evidence concerning the clashes, while its online portal will enable witnesses and stakeholders to provide material with safeguards for confidentiality.