Delhi police (Representative Image)

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha, alleging that two Kerala students were assaulted by police and locals near Red Fort on Wednesday. The students were reportedly “coerced” to speak Hindi and mocked for wearing traditional Kerala attire after being falsely accused of theft.The students, Aswanth I T and Sudhin K from Zakir Husain Delhi College, were allegedly subjected to custodial assault and humiliation by Delhi Police personnel.According to Brittas’s letter, the incident occurred on September 24 when the students were near Red Fort. They were confronted by a group who falsely accused them of theft.

“Instead of extending protection to these students, the policemen present reportedly colluded with the mob and what followed was nothing short of custodial brutality: the students were dragged, beaten with fibre lathis, stomped upon, stripped, and humiliated in the most degrading manner,” Brittas said.The MP stated that their mobile phones were confiscated and they were coerced into making false confessions.“It is learnt that the assault continued even within police premises, in full public view, with locals permitted to participate in the assault. The mobile phone and footwear of one of the students were also reportedly stolen during the assault,” he alleged.Brittas highlighted that the students were further beaten and abused when they tried to communicate in English due to their limited Hindi proficiency.“Even more outrageous” were reports that one of the students was targeted and ridiculed for wearing his traditional Kerala attire, the mundu, thereby converting a simple cultural expression into grounds for criminalisation,” he said.“Such conduct demonstrates a disturbing mix of cultural prejudice and unconstitutional coercion,” Brittas stated, noting it violated the constitutional principles of cultural and linguistic diversity.The CPI(M) leader emphasized that Delhi Police has a greater responsibility to ensure the safety and security of students from other states pursuing education in the capital.“I therefore earnestly urge you to issue urgent directions to conduct an impartial high-level investigation into the incident, ensuring that officers and others responsible for this barbaric assault are identified and brought to justice, as well as to retrieve and return the belongings lost by the students in this ordeal,” he said.Brittas concluded his letter by requesting the commissioner to issue standing instructions to all Delhi police units to maintain cultural sensitivity and uphold constitutional values without discrimination.“I also seek your benevolence in issuing standing instructions to all police units in Delhi to uphold cultural sensitivity, constitutional values, and the fundamental rights of all citizens, without prejudice or discrimination,” he added.