Students and student organisation have always been the torch-bearers of covering social issues and standing up for themselves as well as other students. These organisations are no strangers to protests and morchas where they unite and put their demands so that the government can consider them.
However, more often than not these student protests can become hostile and turn into a scary situation and that’s why the police deem it necessary to deploy forces to control the outburst if there is one. But the question is, does this justify the police manhandling someone who is doing their job?
Anushree Fadnavis, a photojournalist, was a victim of such an unfortunate incident when she was out covering the JNU student’s protest in Delhi on Friday, 23 March 2018.
She took to Twitter to post about the incident expressing her shock over being manhandled by lady police officers in Delhi police.
Never thought I would be manhandled by lady delhi police officers while doing my job. My camera was snatched and I haven't yet received it https://t.co/qYXnCVyg7b
— Anushree Fadnavis (@anu_fadnavis) March 23, 2018
A video which shows her being pushed by the police officers has garnered a lot of criticism from people for the conduct of the police. She can be heard pleading them to not break her camera. You can watch the video here:
.@Delhi Police roughed up @htTweets Photo Journalist #AnushreeFadnavis and snatched her camera during #JNU students protest in #Delhi. @htdelhi #JNURightToBunk #JNULongMarch @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/UKwEW4h9yu
— Ajay Aggarwal (@AjayAggarwalHT) March 23, 2018
Anushree is a photojournalist with Hindustan Times and was only doing her job.
But that’s not all.
As reported by India Today, female students have also been manhandled and beaten up by the police. A Twitter user took to the micro-blogging site to inform people that girls have also complained about being molested while the police attempted to “control” them, while they were demanding the Right to Affordable Education.
Female JNU student thrashed by Delhi cops today. She shared these pics on her Facebook wall. She says male cops hit her. There have been reports of molestations as well. Students were demanding right to affordable education. #JNU pic.twitter.com/I4p1oJtfPw
— Deep Halder (@deepscribble) March 23, 2018
According to a report by Times Now, the students who were protesting were not instructed to limit their protests to Jantar Mantar or Parliament street. They were allowed to protest in South Delhi during peak rush hour but when they reached New Delhi, they were stopped. Apart from Anushree, another journalist was attacked in the crowd, when they started recording the incident.
You can watch the report here:
Journalists attacked, 2 Journalist lodge complaint against cops, cop accused of molestation @bhavatoshsingh shares more details pic.twitter.com/FJxg3ZAD2b
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 24, 2018
The Delhi police have given a statement on Twitter saying that it was the students who first forced down the barricades which prompted the police to resort to using water canon to deter the students.
During protest by JNU students, a section of the students became aggressive and tried to push down police barricades. Police had to resort to use of water canon and few protesters had to be removed from the spot.
— #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) March 23, 2018
They have also acknowledged the molestation complaint by a female journalist who was allegedly manhandled by the police and filed a molestation case.
In this situation, one female journalist has given a complaint of molestation and the same will be enquired into by the vigilance branch for further action.
— #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) March 23, 2018
The Delhi police have also retweeted several videos of students being unruly and attacking the police officers allegedly without provocation.
Please see and identify this JNU protestor who hit SHO Hauz Khas (standing near barricade) on his head with an umbrella. SHO got serious injury on his head. pic.twitter.com/ITBcLnkzlX
— Madhur Verma (@IPSMadhurVerma) March 23, 2018
They singled out a single protestor who can be seen jumping over the barricades and threatening the police personnel on duty.
By what definition can anybody call this JNU protest as peaceful? Please see the protester in blue who is assaulting police personnel without provocation. pic.twitter.com/QH0grW2ACK
— Madhur Verma (@IPSMadhurVerma) March 23, 2018
The videos shared by IPS Madhur Verma also condemned the “peaceful” protest by the students, which can be seen turning unruly and volatile.
Some more so called ‘peaceful’ protesters lifting and throwing barricades and assaulting police personnel on duty. pic.twitter.com/WUzYRqxTxN
— Madhur Verma (@IPSMadhurVerma) March 23, 2018
There are definitely two sides to this story and the students weren’t innocent either. However, the police are supposed to be in a position of responsibility. Do you think the manhandling of journalists to control the protest or the filming, was justified?