Image Courtesy: Twitter
Student and women rights organisations demanded on October 13, 2021 that ACP Pragya Anand be suspended for allegedly ordering the assault of two AISA activists outside the Home Minister’s home.
On October 10, around 20 All India Students’ Association (AISA) members gathered outside Union Minister Amit Shah’s house to call for the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, whose son is the main accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
However, protesters were met with brutal violence and sexual assault by local police, alleged students. Two women activists particularly suffered severe injuries to their genitals. One survivor claimed that female officers attempted to disrobe her. Members claimed the police threatened to “show them their place.”
Symbols of Courage! Our Comrades @ShreyaDU_AISA, @neha_aisa and @EKhwabida boldly raising slogans at @DelhiPolice HQ refusing to be shamed by the police sexual violence.
Ongoing Protest at Delhi Police HQ against sexual assault on our women comrades outside Amit Shah’s house. pic.twitter.com/X1JjQbicgy
— AISA (@AISA_tweets) October 13, 2021
United Citizens Protest at Delhi Police Headquarters against the Horrible Sexual Assault in Custody by Delhi Police on Women Protesting against Lakhimpur Kheri Massacre of Farmers Outside Home Minister’s House!
Sack Pragya Anand, ACP Chanakyapuri Who Ordered the Assault! pic.twitter.com/2eXd1BzfBb
— AISA (@AISA_tweets) October 13, 2021
Enraged by this gross act of harassment, a delegation AISA members Shreya and Neha, All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) Secretary Kavita Krishnan and others from the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) assembled at the Ashoka road during the Citizen’s protest. They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police demanding strict action against all personnel involved in the alleged attack.
AISA Delhi Secretary Neha said, “This kind of violence right in front of the Home Minister’s residence while Ajay Mishra walks free symbolizes the nature of BJP Government and Delhi Police! We saw it in Jamia Millia Islamia university, in Jawaharlal Nehru University, at Shaheen Bagh and in Delhi University that the Delhi Police has inflicted physical sexual violence on women protesters and we challenge them that we will be here to resist it every time!”
Similarly, Krishnan said that Shah was repeating the same atrocities suffered by people in the Northeast, Kashmir, Adivasi regions at the hands of local police. At the same time, protesters reinforced their original demands for Mishra’s removal from the Union Cabinet. Those subjected to the Sunday violence also asserted that they will continue to support farmers in their struggle against the three farm laws.
Earlier, farmers group Samyukta Kisa Morcha (SKM) also condemned the attack on Delhi students as well as five Banaras Hindu University students, who were protesting in solidarity with farmers.
“The protestors have stated that ‘these were not isolated acts committed by some rogue Delhi Police personnel. The manner in which the violence was meted out identically to both women, shows that the women personnel have received training and instructions to treat women protestors in this fashion to show them their place.’ The SKM supports the demand that Anand be dismissed and personnel who subjected protestors to disrobing and assault be suspended,” said farmer leaders in a joint press release.
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