New Delhi: A serving officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sought an “impartial investigation” into the alleged physical mistreatment of women protesters during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital Saturday and Sunday.
Filing a complaint with the National Commission for Women and National Human Rights Commission of India, Assistant Commandant Rahul Solanki attached three links to videos on X “prima facie appearing to show” Delhi Police and CAPF personnel “physically mistreating” the women protesters while detaining them, and sought their forensic examination.
The officer, posted in Manipur, has sought legal and departmental action against the personnel, if the allegations are substantiated. He did not claim to have independently verified all the videos himself.
In addition to the Chairpersons of NCW and NHRC, Solanki also marked his letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar.
However, he maintained that he submitted his complaint only in “individual capacity” as a “concerned citizen” of the country, adding that he is well aware of the “difficult duties” performed by police and other uniformed personnel in maintaining public order and protecting citizens.
“I am submitting this complaint solely in my individual capacity as a concerned citizen of India, committed to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the dignity and safety of women. Three videos circulating on social media prima facie appear to show police/CAPF personnel physically mistreating women protesters. I am sharing the video links and the accounts or organisations from which I obtained them strictly for verification purposes and without endorsing any views, statements, or positions expressed by those individuals or organisations. I do not claim to have independently verified the footage,” Solanki wrote in his complaint.
“I request an impartial investigation and forensic verification of the videos, including examination of the complete incident footage and relevant circumstances. If the allegations are substantiated, appropriate legal and departmental action may be taken against the personnel and supervisory officers found responsible. If the footage is found to be fabricated or materially manipulated, appropriate legal action and removal of misleading content may be pursued in accordance with law.”
Additionally, Solanki also requested appropriate directions and gender-sensitivity training for police personnel deployed on the ground, particularly those dealing with women protesters, to ensure respect for their dignity, safety and legal rights.
Just last month, the officer moved the Delhi High Court, seeking disclosure of nationwide fatalities among government personnel during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The elections, which were held from April to June 2024, had reportedly resulted in the deaths of many on-duty government and security officials due to the heatwave. Solanki was challenging an order by the Central Information Commission (CIC) that, according to him, shielded the Election Commission of India (ECI) from providing centralised casualty records.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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This in a way explains why Manipur is burning. Why despite committing thousands of paramilitary and central police forces, the state remains on the edge.
The officers posted there are more concerned about what is happening in Delhi – more than a 1000 miles away. With this kind of attitude, Manipur will keep burning in the times to come.
I request the government to put capable officers actually focused on Manipur in charge of operations there. The likes of Rahul Solanki have no business being in Manipur.