Human Rights Watch Urges Probe Into Alleged Brutal Delhi Police Response to Peaceful Student Protests

NEW DELHI, July 23: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Indian security forces of using excessive force to suppress largely peaceful student and youth protests in New Delhi on July 20, calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the police response.

In a report released Thursday, the rights organization said police used batons and tear gas against demonstrators and criticized authorities for suspending mobile internet services during the protests, arguing the shutdown increased risks by preventing protesters from communicating during the unrest.

The demonstrations, which began in June over alleged mismanagement of medical entrance examinations, later expanded to include demands for action on unemployment and government corruption. A youth-led movement known as the "Cockroach Janta Party" organized a march to Parliament on July 20. According to HRW, scores of people, including police officers, were injured, while one female protester remains in critical condition.

HRW said it interviewed nine witnesses, including protest organizers, journalists and student protesters, and verified 10 videos posted on social media. The organization said the footage showed police using batons, tear gas and other force against demonstrators, while also noting that it verified one video showing protesters assaulting a police officer.

The report cited witness accounts alleging that police beat protesters without provocation, including women, and that officers pushed crowds into confined spaces, creating dangerous stampede-like conditions. It also raised concerns over the presence of individuals in civilian clothing allegedly assisting police during the crackdown and the reported use of facial recognition technology to monitor demonstrators.

HRW further criticized authorities for suspending mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi during the protests, saying the shutdown hindered communication and emergency coordination. The organization said the government did not make the suspension orders public despite previous guidance from India's Supreme Court.

The Delhi Police have maintained that protesters became violent, attacked officers with stones and other objects, damaged police vehicles and injured security personnel, prompting officers to respond.

HRW urged Indian authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly, investigate allegations of excessive force, hold those responsible accountable regardless of rank, and refrain from imposing internet shutdowns during demonstrations.