Sexual assaults, molestation of women at Delhi protest alert Indian top court
New Delhi: Shocking revelations of sexual assault, molestation and harassment of women protesters during the July 20 CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi have raised serious concerns over the treatment of female demonstrators and the use of force against protesters by the Modi government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, allegations have emerged that women participating in the protest faced sexual assault and molestation, besides targeted violence and harassment. The reported incidents have intensified concerns over the safety and dignity of women exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The allegations have also raised questions about the conduct of Indian law-enforcement personnel during the protest, particularly amid claims of excessive force and harassment of demonstrators. The victims and protesters have called for the allegations to be investigated impartially and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The revelations assume greater significance as the protest was reportedly subjected to police action, with allegations of violence against student protesters and other participants. The reported abuse of women has added a serious dimension to the complaints surrounding the handling of the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Indian Supreme Court has directed a High-Powered Inquiry Committee to take up complaints of sexual assault and molestation of women protesters on a priority basis. The development came after senior counsel Shobha Gupta urged a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to take suo motu cognisance of the allegations and establish a mechanism enabling alleged victims to directly submit their complaints.
The Chief Justice said the committee had been asked to examine the complaints on a priority basis and submit an interim report. The court has also asked the panel to examine allegations of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of female protesters.
The five-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, was constituted to investigate alleged police excesses against student protesters and violence against police personnel during the protests.
The panel also includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla and former Meghalaya DGP LR Bishnoi.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has brought the allegations of sexual violence and molestation under formal judicial scrutiny, with the inquiry expected to establish the facts and determine responsibility for the reported abuses.
