A Delhi court has remanded seventeen students to custody following their arrest for allegedly raising pro-Maoist slogans during an anti-pollution demonstration at India Gate last week. The court ordered four students to two days of police custody while sending thirteen others to one day of judicial custody.
Serious Allegations Against Police
While being transported to court, one of the female students made disturbing allegations against Delhi Police officers. "We were harassed by male police officers... we were sexually harassed. We were subjected to fake medical tests. I was groped by male police officers," she stated, bringing serious attention to the treatment of detainees.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Judicial Magistrate Sahil Monga presided over the case registered at Sansad Marg police station against the seventeen accused students, which includes eleven women. The students face multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including:
Disobedience to a public servant's order
Assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant
Obstruction and wrongful restraint
Conspiracy to commit offences against the State
The Delhi Police had requested seven-day custody of five accused for further investigation and sought extension of judicial custody for the remaining twelve students.
Background of the Case
The controversy stems from events on November 23 when authorities arrested twenty-three students after two FIRs were filed at Kartavya Path and Parliament Street police stations. Police allege the students raised slogans and displayed posters supporting Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was killed on November 19 during an exchange of fire with security forces in Andhra Pradesh's Maredumilli forest area in East Godavari district.
According to police reports, the group also used pepper spray on personnel who attempted to restrain them during the protest, which was originally organized to address pollution concerns but allegedly took a political turn.
The case has drawn significant attention to the intersection of environmental protests and political expression, while the serious allegations of police misconduct have added another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings.
