PUNE: Human rights activist and advocate Vikas Shinde has filed a formal complaint before the Hon’ble National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi, seeking an independent and time-bound inquiry into the alleged use of excessive force during a student protest. The petition highlights the turbulent events of July 20, 2026, at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, where thousands of students and youth had assembled to voice their grievances concerning the NEET examination paper leak and broader student welfare issues.
According to the complaint submitted by Adv. Shinde, widespread media reports, videos, and photographs from the site documented heavy police intervention, including a severe lathi-charge on peaceful demonstrators. Numerous participants sustained grave injuries, and several students were detained. Compounding these concerns are widespread allegations that unidentified private individuals—equipped with lathis and helmets resembling police gear—accompanied security forces and actively participated in assaulting protesters. Furthermore, alarming accounts emerged that female and girl students were subjected to inappropriate physical contact, manhandling, and molestation by law enforcement personnel during detention and dispersal.
The petition underscores that such actions, if verified, constitute a gross violation of fundamental constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 15, and 21, alongside international human rights frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The complainant has urged the NHRC to take immediate cognizance, call for an Action Taken Report from the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and constitute an independent inquiry. Additional prayers include directing the strict preservation of all CCTV recordings, body-cam footage, drone videos, and medical records, alongside recommending prosecution, departmental action, and appropriate compensation for victims.
