Protester may require ear surgery after police assault New Delhi - Fidal Royas travelled from Keralam to Delhi to fight for democracy and demand resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He returned home 11 days later to seek treatment for severe ear injuries that may require surgery after having been hit, kicked, and slapped while detained by Delhi Police on October 11.
The 27-year-old reached Delhi on night of October 1 and participated in protest next day, and then again on October 10. He was detained on both days, but did not face assault. On October 11, however, as police cracked down on attempts to mobilise protest across national capital, he was injured after being "hit and slapped multiple times on his face and ear". He was allegedly attacked after police spotted him recording video about police violence.
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Medical report states he was hit multiple times on right cheek, hand, back, and all over body. He has been diagnosed with normal to mild hearing loss due to perforation in his right ear. He has given confirmation. Doctors will confirm if he needs surgery within next two weeks.
On October 11, Mr. Royas was detained from Connaught Place and held in a bus. "By that time, police had started hitting people and someone was making a video of it and I was talking in that video about the attack. The police saw this and they took the bus to a place about five minutes from there," he said
"As soon as I stepped out, they started hitting me. Five or six policemen surrounded me and started kicking me with their boots," Mr. Royas alleged. When they got back inside bus, he was slapped across his ears again. When he was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, there were delays in getting medical reports. "Since treatment was not completed, we decided to go to Keralam and do rest of treatment," he said.
Court also issued notice to Centre, Delhi Police Commissioner on plea of women journalists represented by senior advocate C.U. Singh, alleging devices of journalists professionally covering protests were seized by security personnel. Mr. Mehta denied submission. Court directed government to "make good the statement in an affidavit".
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Senior advocate Indira Jaising, for Network of Women in Media, India, said women journalists were detained and these incidents must be investigated by independent committee. "Women journalists have a right to work. They are particularly vulnerable to abuse, particularly by male policemen. Form a committee headed by a woman chairperson, maybe a woman Supreme Court judge, in accordance with Vishakha guidelines on sexual harassment at workplace," Ms. Jaising submitted.
Court prima facie agreed with suggestions, but Mr. Mehta said authorities must be given time to respond to petition.
Analytically, Royas case turns protest debate from abstract right to bodily cost. If recording police becomes ground for assault, Article 19(1)(a) empty.
Tags: #DelhiPoliceAssault #FidalRoyas #SIRProtest #PoliceBrutality #RightToRecord #WomenJournalists #JantarMantar #DelhiProtest #FreedomOfPress #Article19