4 FIRs 18 held over NSUI protest violence

Delhi Police has registered four FIRs in connection with alleged violence during a National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) protest in the Parliament Street area on Monday, including cases related to the purported stabbing of a CISF personnel, rioting, defacement and obstruction of public servants, officials said. As many as 18 people were arrested in connection with the alleged violence and produced before court, police said.

Violence broke out during a protest by NSUI workers demanding resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
The NSUI protesters staged a symbolic “living dead” protest near the NSUI headquarters on Raisina Road and attempted to move towards Jantar Mantar, playing dead to make a point about what they called the death of voters’ rights. NSUI’s symbolic “living dead” demonstration, led by national president Vinod Jakhar, saw members carrying placards reading “vote ki chori nahi chalegi, janta ki awaaz nahi dabegi.”

During the protest, a CISF constable, identified as Bikram Kumar, was allegedly attacked with a knife while he was taking a protester away from a barricade. He suffered a minor injury to his right elbow and was taken to RML Hospital for medical examination and treatment. The accused protester was detained, and legal action has been initiated, officials said. Speaking to reporters, CISF constable Bikram said the attacker appeared to target his neck, but he managed to move away, resulting in the knife slashing his hand.

“I was taking the protester from near the barricade, and then he slashed me with the knife. It was intended to slash near my neck, but I was saved, and instead it slashed my hand,” Kumar said. 
Police took the injured constable to RML Hospital. Police said the injury was minor, so he received medical attention and was discharged shortly afterwards.
Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and collecting relevant evidence, including CCTV footage, police said.

The other FIRs relate to alleged rioting, defacement and obstructing public servants from discharging duties, officials said.

Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the alleged violence and the role of individual protesters, they said. Monday’s action comes amid a series of protests in the capital over the past few days demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.

Police had earlier registered FIRs in connection with Friday’s (October 2) demonstrations under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to disobedience of lawful orders, obstruction and assault of public servants.