Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed serious concern over the alleged assault of two Malayali students in New Delhi by police personnel and has sought immediate intervention from the Union government. In a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Vijayan demanded that a high-level inquiry be ordered into the matter so that the truth can be established and justice delivered without delay. He emphasised that if the allegations are proven, strict disciplinary and legal action must be taken against the officers involved, as incidents of this nature erode public faith in law enforcement agencies.
The Chief Minister described the reports of the attack as deeply distressing, particularly because the students, identified as ID Ashwant and K Sudhin of Zakir Hussain Delhi College, were allegedly forced to speak in Hindi during the incident on September 24. He pointed out that such behaviour not only reflects misconduct on the part of the officials but also undermines the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country. Forcing students to abandon their mother tongue in such a coercive manner, Vijayan argued, was unacceptable in a democratic and pluralistic nation.
Underscoring the larger context, Vijayan reminded that young people from all parts of India migrate to different states to pursue higher education, and it is the responsibility of the host states to respect and safeguard their culture, language, and dignity. He said that the news of such misconduct by officers of a law enforcement agency is alarming and could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging further harassment of students and migrants.
He also stressed the fundamental duty of the police, which is to safeguard citizens from anti-social elements and ensure their safety. If the police themselves engage in acts of harassment and assault, he warned, it not only weakens public confidence but also emboldens others to target vulnerable groups. Therefore, he urged the Home Minister to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves and to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation so that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
