Families of Delhi Police personnel injured during the recent student protest in the national capital on Friday alleged that officers faced prolonged violence during the demonstrations, claiming the injuries suffered by police had not received the same public attention as allegations of excesses against students.
At a press conference in New Delhi, family members played videos that they said showed police personnel being attacked and claimed anti-social elements had infiltrated the protests. Referring to the severe injuries sustained by several officers, many of whom are still undergoing treatment, they demanded justice for the injured personnel.
They also argued that the hardships endured by police families had been overshadowed by accusations against the force during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation and urged people to stop portraying police personnel negatively.
'MY FATHER WAS ALMOST LYNCHED'
The daughter of a Delhi Police Sub-Inspector injured during the protests alleged that her father was "almost lynched", saying he was rendered unconscious and the incident left the family deeply traumatised.
A student at Delhi University, she said her father was stationed near the barricades on the frontline to maintain order. According to her, every evening he returned home saying the demonstration no longer resembled a student protest and that anti-social elements had joined the crowd.
Describing the alleged incident on July 25, she claimed her father was dragged by a violent mob near the stage at Jantar Mantar around 2 pm and remained unconscious for nearly four hours at RML Hospital.
She recalled that when colleagues brought him home around 10 pm, his uniform was drenched in blood, calling it one of the most painful nights her family had experienced.
Questioning the public discourse surrounding the violence, she alleged that attacks on police officers had not received sufficient attention.
She said she was shocked to see her father being portrayed as a criminal on social media and later learnt that those accused of attacking him had approached the Supreme Court. She asserted that police families also deserve justice.
She added that her father had earlier served as a Marine Commando before joining Delhi Police and, despite the assault, had never spoken negatively about students.
'HELMET WAS SHATTERED DURING STONE-PELTING'
Seema, the wife of a Delhi Police Assistant Sub-Inspector, said her husband, who has served in the force for 33 years after joining as a constable, was injured during the CJP's march to Parliament on July 20 after being struck by stones and had to be hospitalised.
She said her husband had informed her earlier that day that the crowd had grown significantly and was attempting to move towards Parliament. Later, she was told he had been admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries.
According to her, he said the crowd had turned aggressive and that anti-social elements attacked police personnel with flower pots, slippers, shoes, stones and other objects.
She further claimed protesters breached barricades erected near Parliament and assaulted officers trying to stop them.
She said the helmet issued to her husband during duty was completely shattered, adding that had the stone penetrated the helmet, the consequences could have been fatal.
Appealing to lawmakers, she urged Parliament to also discuss the rights and welfare of police personnel and their families.
She maintained that public discussion since July 20 had focused only on allegations that students were beaten, while the experiences of injured police officers had largely been ignored.
'FATHER INJURED WHILE PROTECTING SENIOR OFFICERS'
Lakshya Singh Mehta, whose father is an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Delhi Police, said his father had earlier told him the gathering was no longer limited to students. He later learnt through a colleague that his father had been injured.
He said seeing his father's photograph with a shaved head and four stitches left him frightened.
According to Lakshya, his father said rowdies had taken advantage of the situation to create chaos and that stone-pelting began without provocation while he was briefing his subordinates. He alleged his father was struck on the head while trying to move senior officers to safety.
Lakshya also criticised what he described as one-sided narratives on social media, saying online discussions largely targeted police personnel while ignoring their perspective.
He added that police families had also approached the Supreme Court because they too had rights, and said his father could not speak publicly due to the responsibilities of his service.
'WAS TRAUMATIC FOR OUR FAMILY'
The wife of a Delhi Police ACP injured during the July 20 clashes described the incident as deeply traumatic, recalling her husband returning home wounded late that night.
Speaking alongside other families of injured officers at the press conference, she said the experience had been extremely painful for her and their two-year-old daughter. She said the families had come forward to highlight the hardships faced by police personnel and their loved ones during the violence.
The families' interaction with the media comes as Opposition parties continue to seek answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police excesses during the student protests. The Opposition and the CJP have demanded that all cases registered against students during the agitation—which eventually led to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation—be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police said it would not take adverse legal action against individuals who participated in the CJP-led protest, though those with criminal backgrounds would still face action.
According to a Delhi government order, the Home Department said that any arrests or detentions already made would be reviewed promptly and the process of releasing those eligible would be carried out expeditiously.
