My father was almost lynched: Delhi cops' families speak out over student protest

Families of Delhi Police personnel injured during the recent student protest in Delhi claimed on Friday that police officers were subjected to sustained violence during the agitation, saying their ordeal had received little public attention despite the injuries suffered by many personnel.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the families screened videos showing attacks on police personnel and alleged that anti-social elements had infiltrated the protest. Citing the serious injuries sustained by several officers, many of whom they said are still undergoing treatment, the families called for justice for injured police personnel as well.

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The families argued that their suffering had been overshadowed by allegations of police excesses against students and urged the public to stop vilifying police personnel over the force's actions during the agitation, led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

'MY FATHER WAS ALMOST LYNCHED'

The daughter of a Sub Inspector with Delhi Police, who was injured during the protest, claimed that her father was "almost lynched", claiming the attack left him unconscious and has deeply traumatised the family.

The Delhi University student said her father was deployed on the frontline near the barricades, trying to maintain order during the agitation. She recalled that when his colleagues brought him home later that night, his uniform was soaked in blood.

"My father was at the main protest site. He was on the frontline, near the barricades. Every night when he came home, he would tell us that it no longer looked like a student protest and that many anti-social elements had joined it," she said.

Narrating the alleged attack on July 25, she said, "My father was dragged by a rowdy mob and was almost lynched near the stage at Jantar Mantar. This happened at around 2 pm. He remained unconscious at RML Hospital for about four hours".

"Around 10 pm that night, my father's colleagues brought him home and his uniform was completely soaked in blood. Seeing him like that was extremely painful for us. That night was one of the most difficult nights our family has ever faced," she added.

Questioning the public narrative surrounding the violence, she alleged that attacks on police personnel had not received adequate attention.

"When I opened social media, I saw my own father being portrayed as a criminal. Then I learnt that the same people who attacked him had gone to the Supreme Court. We also have equal rights. We also deserve justice," she said.

The daughter added that the officer was earlier a Marine Commando before joining the Delhi Police and "had never spoken negatively about students despite the attack."

"Even after almost being lynched, he has never said anything against students. He was simply injured while performing his duty," she added.

'HELMET WAS SHATTERED DURING STONE-PELTING'

Seema, the wife of another Delhi Police Assistant Sub-Inspector, said her husband, who joined the force as a constable and has served for 33 years, was injured after being hit by stones during the CJP's march to Parliament on July 20. He was hospitalised following the attack, she claimed.

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She said the officer informed her in the morning that the crowd had swelled significantly and protesters were attempting to march towards Parliament. She recalled asking him to stay safe. Later, she learnt that he had been admitted to hospital after allegedly sustaining injuries during the violence.

"He told me the crowd had become very aggressive and that anti-social elements had joined it. They attacked police personnel with flower pots, slippers, shoes, stones and whatever they could find," she alleged.

Recalling the aftermath, she said her husband told her that protesters broke through barricades erected to secure Parliament and attacked police personnel attempting to stop them.

"The helmet issued to him during duty was completely shattered. Had the stone struck his head after breaking through the helmet, perhaps he would not be alive today. That thought still shakes me," she said.

Appealing to lawmakers, she urged Parliament to also deliberate on the rights and welfare of police personnel and their families.

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"Since July 20, only one narrative has been promoted, that students were beaten by the police. But that is only one side of the story. Police personnel who protect Parliament and the country's internal security also deserve to have their voices heard," she added.

'FATHER INJURED WHILE PROTECTING SENIOR OFFICERS'

Lakshya Singh Mehta, whose father is also an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Delhi Police, said his father had told him that the gathering in Delhi was no longer made up of just students. Later, one of his father's colleagues informed him that the officer had been injured during the violence.

"When I saw his photograph, his head had been shaved and he had four stitches. I was really frightened," he said.

"He said there were rowdies and aggressors using the opportunity to create chaos. Stone-pelting started without any provocation while he was briefing his subordinates. He was trying to move senior officers to a safer place when a stone hit his head," he alleged.

Lakshya also criticised what he described as one-sided portrayals of the violence on social media.

"Whenever I go online, I see only derogatory comments against the police. Nobody talks about our side. My father always tells me not to pay attention because such content is meant to provoke both sides," he said.

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He said it was particularly painful to see complaints being filed against police personnel while injured officers remained absent from the public discourse.

"We also approached the Supreme Court because we too have rights. My father isn't here today because he is bound by the rules of his duty. We are here to represent families whose fathers and spouses were injured," he said.

'WAS TRAUMATIC FOR OUR FAMILY'

The wife of a Delhi Police ACP who was injured during the July 20 clash said the incident had left her family deeply traumatised, recalling the moment her husband returned home wounded late that night.

"The moment he returned home late on the night of July 20, injured as he was, was incredibly painful and traumatic for both me and my two-year-old daughter," she said while addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

Standing alongside other family members of injured Delhi Police personnel, she said they had come forward to share their experiences and sought recognition for the hardships faced by police families during the violence.

The families' media interaction comes as Opposition parties continue to demand answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over what they describe as police excesses during the student protests. The Opposition, along with the CJP, has been calling for all cases registered against students in connection with the agitation, which culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, to be withdrawn.

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Meanwhile, the Delhi Police said that it will not take any legal adverse action against individuals who participated in the CJP-led protest, but those with a criminal background will have to face action.

According to a Delhi government order, the home department said that with regard to arrests or detentions, if already made, the process for reviewing the arrests and releasing the arrested persons will be undertaken expeditiously.

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