Shanti, Sewa, Nyay? Rahul’s ‘sherni’ and SFI’s Nadia recount brutality in Delhi Police custody

Fresh allegations of police brutality during weekend protests against the Election Commission emerged on Wednesday, as Rahul Gandhi stood alongside an injured NSUI protester he called “sherni”, a day after SFI leader Nadia alleged assault and sexual harassment in custody.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi introduced a NSUI protester who said a woman constable had grabbed her by the neck, scratched her face and slapped her inside a detention bus.

“She was beaten, but she was not afraid. There was no hatred in her heart,” Rahul said, introducing the protester as “our sherni”.

The woman said NSUI workers had been protesting peacefully when they were detained in three buses, each carrying around 30-40 people. Her bus had two women and around 20-30 other NSUI members, she said.

The protesters tried to get off the bus and resume their demonstration. They also sat beneath the vehicle in an attempt to stop it from moving, she said.

She identified the woman constable as Chanchal Yadav and said the officer grabbed her tightly by the neck, shoved her backwards onto a seat and scratched her face, including the area near her ear, with her nails.

The constable then slapped her hard, she said, quoting the officer as telling her: “Here, take another slap across your face.”

“PM to cops, will punish all who beat up students during protests,” the Rae Bareilly MP said.

Rahul urged students to create evidence when detained, saying it will be used to get justice for protesters and added that the PM should not come in the way of protesting students as they are India's voice.

On Tuesday, Nadia, Student Federation of India’s Delhi unit president described being surrounded and assaulted by women police personnel inside a detention vehicle. She said an officer hit her hand, pulled her hair and tried to twist her finger, leaving her in severe pain.

“Six policewomen (were) trying to stop my friend from recording; five were on me,” Nadia said, recounting the incident on X.

Earlier on Monday, Students' Federation of India (SFI) members recounted their experiences during the protests against the CEC in Delhi, alleging that they were beaten up inside detention buses, while women were sexually harassed by security personnel.

A protester from Kerala, identified by fellow demonstrators as Fidel, suffered serious hearing impairment after being slapped repeatedly on his right ear, SFI members said. He was taken to RML Hospital for treatment.

An SFI member said women protesters were subjected to sexual humiliation in detention. She said a police officer lifted her kurta as she was being pushed into a bus, where male personnel were also present.

SFI president Adarsh M. Saji, leaders Aishe Ghosh, Nadia and Sharanya, among others, showed their bruises at a news conference.

CPM leader Brinda Karat, who was detained during the protests, termed the police action “unprecedented” in her decades of experience in Delhi.

“Today, sexual harassment by people in uniform has become an instrument to prevent dissent,” she said.

Two detainees separately told Alt News that they were punched, kicked and beaten inside a prison van on October 11.

“Bacchon, police ki maar ka bura nahi maante. Yeh aapko samjhane ke liye kari gayi hai” (Children, don’t take offence at being beaten by the police. This was done to teach you a lesson”, said police to them, claimed the detainees.

They said that protesters were called out one by one inside the pitch-dark vehicle, with screams following as they were allegedly assaulted and shoved into cramped, grille-enclosed compartments.

On Tuesday, Delhi Police posted a video of personnel handing water to detained protesters with the caption: “We uphold humanity along with our duties!”

Delhi Police, whose motto is “Shanti, Seva, Nyay” (Peace, Service, Justice) has not yet released any video or statement addressing the allegations of custodial violence.

In a statement on October 11, Neha Yadav of Delhi Police said women officers deployed during the protests suffered injuries, misbehaviour and torn badges.

“Social media is not showing what women officers have to go through. Some female staff experience extreme misbehaviour. Many of our female staff have endured injuries. Their badges have been torn off,” she said.

The protests were held against the SIR exercise and restrictions on demonstrations in the capital, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders and student groups have accused the police of excessive force.