A serving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer has formally approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Commission for Women (NCW), and the Delhi Police Commissioner, requesting an impartial inquiry into videos circulating on social media. The footage purportedly shows Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and police personnel engaging in the physical mistreatment of women who were protesting against SIR and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
Assistant Commandant Rahul Solanki submitted the complaint on October 11 in his individual capacity as a concerned citizen. In his communication, Solanki explicitly stated that he is committed to the rule of law and the fundamental dignity and safety of women. He highlighted three specific video links that form the basis of his concerns, requesting that authorities perform a thorough forensic verification of the incidents and the surrounding circumstances.
Solanki included a formal disclaimer with his request, clarifying that the videos were obtained strictly for verification purposes and have not yet been authenticated. He further stated that he is not endorsing the viewpoints of any specific organizations or individuals linked to the dissemination of the clips. His request emphasizes the need for a transparent process to determine whether the alleged misconduct took place or if the provided footage was fabricated.
The officer suggested that if the allegations of inappropriate behavior against protesters are substantiated, appropriate legal and departmental action should be taken against the personnel involved and their respective supervisors. Conversely, if the investigation determines that the footage was manipulated or misleading, he requested that legal action be pursued and the content removed according to the law. Additionally, Solanki called for the implementation of gender sensitivity training for police personnel deployed for ground duties.
The move has drawn internal scrutiny within the security establishment. A CRPF official speaking to the media noted that Solanki, who was not present at the site of the protests, opted to approach external rights watchdogs rather than raising his concerns through internal departmental channels. According to the official, this approach may be viewed as a breach of discipline, as service conduct rules generally restrict officers from filing public complaints against other government departments or state officials.
The official hinted that Solanki could potentially face departmental proceedings for violating established conduct protocols. This is not the first instance where the officer has taken such a stance; he has previously served as a whistleblower regarding the living conditions of CRPF personnel deployed for the 2019 assembly elections in Jharkhand and, more recently, regarding the unauthorized sale of tracksuits at a CRPF group center in Greater Noida.
As of now, the investigation into the specific events depicted in the videos remains the focal point of the complaint. The response from the Delhi Police and the human rights commissions to the request for an impartial probe is pending. The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding the balance between the rights of protesters, the conduct of security personnel, and the internal administrative regulations governing the behavior of serving officers.
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