New Delhi: Following the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation outside the Parliament Street Police Station, the Delhi Police has assured to add Sections of the POCSO, SC/ST Act and charges under attempt to murder in the FIR against the man accused of assaulting a minor protester’s father. The protest was also joined by Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav and the Indian Youth Congress.
This comes after students and youth staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station and raised slogans amidst a heavy security cover, seeking the arrest of a man, who in a viral video claimed to have assaulted the father of a student protester during the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
A controversy erupted after the man in the alleged video boasted that he was let off by the Delhi Police as he has “political connections”.
Speaking to reporters, CJP co-convener Saurav Das said: “The Additional DCP gave us a commitment that by this evening, charges for attempt to murder will be added to the existing FIR in the victim’s case. Along with that, the SC/ST Act will also be invoked, Section 308 will be applied, and Section 351 will also be applied.”
“The goons will not be allowed to roam freely like this,” he asserted.
Chandrashekhar Azad added: “The victim’s family is scared. Sanjay and his daughter are constantly receiving threats of rape, acid attacks, and murder—they are living in fear. If this is the condition in the country’s capital, you can imagine what the situation must be in rural areas.”
“The police officials have promised us that they will take the required action within 72 hours. Since the girl is a minor, POCSO Sections will be added along with Sections of SC/ST Act and attempt to murder. We have also submitted a complaint regarding the rape threats being received by the victim. Action will be taken against that too,” he said, while adding that “people who resort to violence should not roam around freely.”
“If action is not taken as promised, we will undertake a gherao of the Police Commissioner’s office and if required of the Home Ministry as well,” he stated.
Claiming that the minor’s father sustained two separate injuries, the Lok Sabha MP referred to the “political connections” that the accused boasted of in the viral video.
“Why did the public have to show such outrage? Somewhere, it feels that there is political involvement. Those whose names are coming up, why wasn’t there an enquiry into them? Did they call senior police officials to get the accused released? Their actions should also be investigated. The law is equal for everyone, whether it is me or someone else. But if someone’s crime is pardoned based on their power, then that is a threat to democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
Speaking to IANS, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav said: “Why does the government have so much hatred for Dalits, the weak, the poor, women, and minorities? Are they above this Constitution? Above democracy?…And they always commit atrocities against daughters—a daughter in Manipur… a daughter in Delhi…Are you going to turn this into a nation of terrorists? In this way, no girl child will step out of her house.”
“That is why the students are fighting against them…in order to protect our daughters and minorities, this government will have to go,” he stated.
Indian Youth Congress Delhi President, Akshay Lakra, claimed that the victim had received seven to eight stiches on his head after the assault.
(IANS)
