Congress MP K.C. Venugopal Alleges Assault on Female Students During Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Wednesday accused Delhi Police personnel of using excessive force against female students detained during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that two women activists were assaulted and required hospital treatment.

Venugopal made the allegations after visiting injured protesters at Lady Hardinge Hospital in New Delhi. He claimed the students had been participating peacefully in the demonstration and raising slogans when police personnel took them away.

Describing the incident as a “brutal attack”, the Congress leader alleged that no woman police officer or constable was present when the students were initially detained.

Venugopal further claimed that two female students were subsequently taken away by women constables and subjected to violence. Referring to the account given by student Athira, he alleged that the confrontation escalated after police personnel questioned whether the protesters would participate only in the presence of female police staff.

He also said Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would meet the students and bring the incident to public attention.

National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) president Vinod Jakhar also expressed concern over the alleged police action, saying two women activists had been hospitalised overnight.

“Students are now being beaten and assaulted for raising their voices,” Jakhar said, describing the situation as serious.

The controversy follows a demonstration organised by the NSUI at Rajiv Chowk Metro station, where protesters demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities. Several demonstrators, including Jakhar, were detained during the protest.

According to a statement issued by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), national in-charge Manish Sharma, Jakhar and NSUI national in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar subsequently met injured activists and enquired about their condition.

The Congress-affiliated organisations alleged that police personnel had used excessive force against demonstrators who were protesting peacefully.

The IYC called for an impartial investigation and appropriate action against anyone found responsible for the alleged use of unlawful force.

The allegations had not received an immediate response from Delhi Police at the time of the report. The claims of assault and excessive force remain allegations attributed to the protesters and Congress-affiliated organisations.