CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas has written to President Droupadi Murmu, the Vice President, and the Chief Justice of India, seeking urgent intervention after alleging he was subjected to physical assault by police personnel. Brittas claims he was manhandled and dragged inside a police vehicle before being abandoned on the roadside. The MP stated that the alleged incident continued even after he disclosed his official identity to the officers involved.
According to the MP, the incident occurred shortly after the Supreme Court issued directions aimed at safeguarding peaceful protestors from illegal detentions. Brittas contended that the actions of the police raise significant concerns regarding the rule of law and the protection of democratic dissent. He further alleged that a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) had eventually ordered his release upon determining that his detention was unlawful, leading to him being dropped off on the wayside.
In his communication to the President, the Rajya Sabha member has requested a comprehensive report from both the Union and Delhi governments. He is calling for an impartial, independent investigation into the conduct of the police officers and the role played by senior officials during the episode. Brittas highlighted the issue of Parliamentary privilege, arguing that the treatment he received constitutes an assault on democratic freedoms. The incident occurred amidst a period of heightened activity regarding protests in the capital, with Brittas pointing to other instances of detention of leaders over the preceding two days. He maintained that the strength of a democracy should be measured by its capacity to engage with dissent rather than suppress it through the use of force. The MP is pressing for accountability to ensure such actions are addressed by the authorities.
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