‘I will die. Why are you hitting me? What wrong have I done?’ Shahreyar Khan, the victim, kept asking the cops
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – A Muslim student from the Campus Law Centre (CLC) of Delhi University (DU) was recently assaulted by some policemen after he had a little argument with them at the campus. The policemen also reportedly hurled Islamophobic slur (mullah) at him.
Shahreyar Khan, the victim, had filed a complaint at the Maurice Nagar police station on 27 September when the incident occurred after the students’ union elections.
“I was beaten up and dragged. After being dragged for some time, I was hit with sticks. They beat me on my chest, head, waist and right leg. The assault made me choke and I gasped for breath and my vision blurred. I was not able to see anything. I kept on saying that I was sick and pleaded with them not to hit me in the chest as I was undergoing treatment,” he said.
“I will die. Why are you hitting me? What wrong have I done?” he kept asking the policemen.
According to the complaint, responding to a call Khan reached Mother Dairy to meet and discuss the post-election strategy with fellow students. Policemen present there started pushing them while hurling abuses. When Khan opposed the police action, senior officials instructed the cops to beat him up.
The law student said he fell unconscious as a result of the assault. When he regained consciousness, he found himself being dragged towards a bus. When he refused to get on the bus, he was called “mullah” after the cops established his Muslim identity. The police also threatened him with an encounter.
He was forcibly pushed onto the bus and taken to the police station. When he asked about the reason behind his detention, he was told to file a complaint at 112.
Khan demanded legal action against the erring policemen after filing an FIR. Several days have gone by and no FIR has been filed yet. Instead, Khan said, he was summoned by the police to join investigations in some other case.
On Saturday, the Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union issued a statement in support of Khan while slamming the police for failing to lodge an FIR in the case.
“The JNUSU stands with Shahreyar, and warns Delhi Police that attacks on students won’t be tolerated by the student community. We demand the immediate suspension of the DCP. We also demand that an FIR be registered against the perpetrators and an unbiased investigation be carried out on the matter by an independent body,” the statement said.
The JNUSU noted that after continuous pressure, the police have taken up a complaint against DCP Manoj Meena. However, it has not been converted into an FIR yet! Shockingly, Khan himself has been called by Delhi Police for interrogation!
“How can fair inquiry be possible with the DCP who abused his powers still in his position?” asked the JNUSU.
“Shame on the Delhi Police for this outrageous abuse of power! Stop police violence and surveillance on campus! Justice for Shahryear,” the statement added.
Khan said that he has also filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission in this regard.