Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons following a complaint by a Kashmiri youth who alleged that he was assaulted during a protest by Congress leaders in the Connaught Place area of the national capital.
The incident took place on Thursday when Fahim Nazir, a Srinagar resident, reportedly reached the protest site carrying a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raised slogans in his support. According to police sources, Nazir claimed that Congress workers attacked him because of his political views. Police said all aspects of the incident would be investigated.
Speaking to reporters, Nazir alleged that he was beaten despite not abusing Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
“EVMs were brought by Rajiv Gandhi for the first time in 1998. You all have the footage. I did not abuse Rahul Gandhi, but I was beaten badly,” he said.
Nazir also said he had taken the initiative to make people aware of what he described as a conspiracy to turn India into Nepal or Bangladesh.
“Questions should be asked of Rahul Gandhi. This is freedom of speech,” he added.
The incident has sparked competing claims, with Nazir alleging that he was targeted for supporting the Prime Minister, while some protesters claimed that he had verbally abused Rahul Gandhi.
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows the youth being surrounded, pushed, dragged and repeatedly hit by people in the crowd. The allegations are yet to be established through the police investigation.
The incident triggered a political backlash, with BJP leaders condemning the alleged assault. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared the video on social media and accused Congress workers of displaying an “anarchist mindset”.
Another BJP spokesperson, Sajid Yousuf Shah, also criticised the incident and questioned the Congress party’s commitment to dissent and freedom of expression.
The confrontation occurred amid protests by Congress and other opposition parties over alleged discrepancies in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The demonstrations have also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The police investigation is expected to examine the circumstances leading to the confrontation and the allegations made by those involved.
FOLLOW NOW
