The Delhi Police on Monday came down heavily on students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), who were protesting outside Jammu and Kashmir Bhawan demanding justice for an eight-year-old rape victim. The protest had been organised on the call of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) against the barbaric rape and murder of tribal girl in J&K’s Kathua.

According to local newspaper reports, the police had failed to trace the eight-year-old one week after a missing complaint was registered. Last Wednesday, her mutilated body was found from Hiranagar Tehsil with marks of electric shocks. As the incident failed to make news on mainstream media, protests were called at various places, including Delhi and Kashmir.

The protesters said they were stopped by the Delhi Police even before they reached the venue of the agitation. Speaking to Newslaundry, the students expressed shock over the use of force, including the CRPF, against peaceful protesters. Azhar Amim, a protester and research scholar from JNU, said “it was unprecedented what we witnessed today. Usually students are allowed to protest outside state Bhawans and give a memorandum at the end. Today we were stopped further away from Jammu and Kashmir Bhawan, where a huge contingent of CRPF and policemen had been deployed. They thrashed us and hurled abuse.”

While the male protesters alleged they were beaten up brutally, female students complained about being manhandled and beaten up while detained in a bus. JNUSU vice-president Simone Zoya Khan was allegedly targeted individually and beaten black and blue by a woman constable while she had gone to drink water. Khan said she was punched on the face and threatened. A complaint has been filed in the matter.

Tarif Sohail, a Kashmiri student at the protest, pointed out: “This kind of lathi-charge was unprecedented because of the larger participation by students from Jammu and Kashmir.” He accused the police (Jammu and Kashmir) for being involved in the eight-year-old’s murder and said “it’s not just an act of sheer negligence”.

Another student, Anubhuti Anges Bara, who was badly injured in her stomach and ear, told Newslaundry that “when we question state-sponsored crimes in Kashmir, the rape and murder of Asifa and Nilofer, brutal custodial violence is the answer”. Bara added that “we were brutally beaten up in the police bus after being detained. Filthy sexist and racist abuses were hurled at us. Clothes of some protesters were also torn and female protesters were manhandled.”

Another student, Shashi Tripathi, said that more than the clampdown on students, “what happened to Asifa is important and everybody should know about it. The issue must not die”. JNUSU in a statement condemned the incident and demanded an explanation from the police for their brutality on students protesting peacefully.

Note: The story has been updated in accordance with the Delhi High Court’s order.