BRUTALLY BEATEN, UNLAWFUL DETENTION AND INTERROGATION OF STUDENT ACTIVIST BY NIA

In the early hours of February 4th, 2025 at around 3 AM, Four students activist—Gaurav, Gauraang, Rahul, and Kiran— associated with the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) were detained by JNU gaurds in the JNU CAMPUS for peacefully raising concerns via doing wall Writings regarding the ongoing military operations in Bastar, False encounters and the plunder of the country’s resources by big corporate. The student were then handed over to Vasant Kunj, who arrived with a cavalcade of 6-7 vehicles to take them into interrogative custody.

The students were brutally beaten in interrogation by the Vasant Kunj Police. Gauraang was beaten for more than 30 minutes leading to bleeding in his ears. Similar treatment was accorded to Gaurav. They were all beaten up in the morning before being sent to investigation. One of the officers who were beating was sub inspector Vinay Bhardwaj from Vasant Kunj South police station. Not only this, the students were handed over to intelligence agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), who visited the Vasant Kunj Police station and illegally interrogated the students by using the investigative detention in a frivolous case pertaining to defacement of public property and trespassing. The intervention of such intelligence agencies in a case pertaining to basic expression of political views is a concerning trend and should be countered to protect democratic spaces within the university. The state’s heavy-handed response to their act of protest is a clear violation of constitutional rights and serves as a stark reminder of the increasing repression against political dissent.

In places like Bastar, the state is operating with unchecked impunity, with it having unleashed an undeclared war on the people under the guise of eliminating the Maoists through Operation Kagaar. In resource-rich Bastar, foreign corporations are invited by the Indian bureaucracy and protected by the police and military so that foreign corporations and domestic big corporates can plunder our people’s resources. In the name of development, what we see in Bastar is increasing militarisation, displacement and state repression. The Indian state doesn’t want the people of Bastar to be heard in order to keep its excesses hidden. That is why they work in a completely illegal manner in order to suppress all dissent and all questions about the exploitation and oppression of the people in Bastar, of the Adivasis and their struggle. In Bastar, we saw this in the way in which Moolwasi Bachao Manch was banned for being “anti development” and “anti national”.

The detention of the students is a direct violation of Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. By expressing their political views through wall paintings, the students exercised their fundamental right to protest and draw attention to the ongoing military operations, violation of tribal Rights, and plunder of Bastar’s resources by corporate entities. The arbitrary crackdown on this peaceful form of protest, while other political graffitis—both from democratic and fascist organizations—remains unchallenged on campus, reflects a selective and unjust application of rules.

Moreover, the right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution was flagrantly violated when the students were detained without legal justification, their phones confiscated, and their whereabouts concealed for hours. Despite false claims of their release, the students were held with no information provided about their location. This illegal detention not only violates their constitutional rights but also undermines the very principles of justice and fairness.

In addition, the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment under Article 21 was violated when the students were subjected to physical abuse during their detention. This constitutes a clear breach of India’s commitment to human rights, including its obligations under the Convention Against Torture, which India has ratified.

The detention and torture of these students are part of a broader pattern of state repression aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the voices of those who question the policies and actions of the ruling powers. This attack on democratic rights is not just an attack on the individuals involved, but on the larger movement for justice, equality, and accountability. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the bsCEM members and with all those fighting for the rights of the oppressed and marginalized.

We call upon all democratic, progressive individuals and organizations to join in demanding strict action against police officials responsible for physical torture and illegal detention of students. Their struggle is a struggle for justice, and it is a struggle we must all take up.

We demand the following actions from the Indian state:

• A thorough investigation into the physical abuse inflicted upon the students, especially the brutality faced by Gaurang and Gaurav, and immediate disciplinary action against the officers responsible.

•The immediate cessation of Operation Kagaar and all operations that violate the rights of the people of Bastar.

• The restoration of academic freedom and the protection of democratic expression within universities, ensuring that students can peacefully express their political views without fear of persecution.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION

Organising Team (AIRSO, AISA, AISF, APCR, ASA, BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM, COLLECTIVE, CRPP, CSM CTF, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity, IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA, Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, NAPM, NAZARIYA, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, SFI, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S).