New Delhi: Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons following a complaint by a Kashmiri youth who was allegedly assaulted a day earlier during a protest by Congress leaders in the Connaught Place area of the national capital.
According to Delhi Police sources, the complainant claimed to be a fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that Congress workers assaulted him after he arrived at the protest site carrying a photograph of the Prime Minister on Thursday. However, the police said all aspects of the incident would be investigated.
Speaking to reporters, Fahim Nazir, a resident of Srinagar, said, “EVMs were brought by Rajiv Gandhi for the first time in 1998. You all have the footage. I did not abuse Rahul Gandhi, but I was beaten badly.”
He further said he had taken the initiative to make people aware of what he described as a conspiracy to turn India into Nepal or Bangladesh.
“Questions should be asked of Rahul Gandhi. This is freedom of speech,” he said.
The youth had reportedly arrived at the protest site and was allegedly roughed up by a group of protesters after raising slogans in support of PM Modi. The protesters, however, alleged that he had verbally abused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
A video of the incident circulating on social media shows the man being surrounded, pushed, dragged and repeatedly hit by people in the crowd.
The youth later alleged that he was assaulted by Congress workers for supporting the Prime Minister, while denying that he had abused Rahul Gandhi.
The incident triggered a political backlash, with BJP leaders condemning the alleged assault.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared the video on social media and accused Congress workers of displaying an “anarchist mindset”.
Another BJP spokesperson, Sajid Yousuf Shah, also criticised the alleged assault, questioning the Congress’ commitment to dissent and freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, the Congress and other opposition parties have been staging protests over alleged discrepancies in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The demonstrations have also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
(IANS)
