Blind JNU students manhandled by police protest outside PHQ

Visually challenged students of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Wednesday protested outside the old police headquarters here against the alleged lathicharge by the force on varsity students protesting against hostel fee hike.

The students later submitted a memorandum of demands to the police and were assured that their complaints will be looked into.

The students met Delhi Police PRO and DCP (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa and apprised him of the "instances of lathicharge and manhandling" of students during the protests on Monday, the minutes of their meeting said.

The Delhi Police assured the students that their allegations will be enquired and proper steps would be taken.

"Randhawa agreed to issue a circular to sensitise Delhi Police personnel with regard to dealing with persons with disabilities. It was agreed upon that there will be an official inquiry into the instance of lathicharge and derogatory remarks," the minutes said.

Shashi Bhushan Pandey, a differently abled student, had alleged he was lathicharged even after he told police that he is visually challenged.

He had said policemen even told him, "If you are blind, why are you even here at the protest." The minutes also said the DCP agreed to arrange delegation level dialogue with the Delhi Police commissioner within a week to discuss issues.

"They have given us a memorandum with their demands. We have heard their allegations. We have told them that it will be enquired and proper steps would be taken. "Delhi police is a sensitive and professional force. We will enquire into such allegations (of lathicharge). On that day, Delhi police exercised maximum restraint and professionally handled them and tried to control the crowd," Randhawa told reporters.

After the meeting, Gunjan Kumari, a representative from the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Visually Challenged Students Forum said they were "satisfied to an extent".