JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
New Delhi, India
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DELHI POLICE BRUTALLY ASSAULTS JMI STUDENTS |
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JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
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This page contains the excerpts of the letter that the students sent to the Human Rights Commission. More letters will soon be added: Ashfaque Zafar
Ashfaque Zafar The Delhi Police attacked us on the night of 9th April 2000. They kicked me and thrashed me with wooden sticks as if I was an animal. These savages didn’ t even hesitate to throw me down from the second floor to the first floor and then to the ground floor. The physical and mental torture was aggravated in the Police station where they didn’ t even provide water, let alone food. The imam of the mosque was ill-treated and assaulted in front of us. The policemen ransacked our rooms and behaved in such an uncivilized manner which cannot be mentioned. We want justice, and want the further violation of Human rights to be stopped.
Sadique Ali On 9th April 2000 at about 10pm, I was studying in my room when hell broke loose in the hostel. I saw the police barging in the hostel and chasing the petrified boys. Not sensing the need of the hour I went back to my room. Few minutes later, the policemen knocked the door of my room. I opened the door without any enquiry, and the policemen attacked me right away. My left elbow received a real hard blow of lathi. I pleaded that I am handicapped and suffer from polio but it was a no use, as they abused and thrashed me continuously. Then they dragged me out of my room upto the main gate beating me mercilessly all the way. Then I was whisked away in a gypsy to the Defence Colony Police Station. The policemen didn’t relax even there and used their lathis on our bodies to tone up their muscles. These goons snatched my silver ring and Rs 754. It seems as if they had come with the motive of theft and robbery.
Tabrez Khan On the night of 9th April 2000, I was studying in the SRK Hostel Room no. 116, when the police started firing tear gas shells as a result of which the entire hostel was engulfed in smoke. Within a few moments after that, I heard the cries of my hostel mates. I peeped through the window and saw the policemen breaking doors, windows and beating the students savagely and started our chastisement with their lathis. One of the policemen snatched my wrist watch and Rs 200 which was in my pocket. Their action was so swift, that we were not able to see their names on their badges. We were also beaten in Police Station, and the policemen kept abusing us and used derogatory terms which is not in the interest of the integration of the nation. The mental and physical trauma is unforgettable. My appeal is that the policemen involved should be terminated from their jobs.
Abdul Kawi Ahmad On the that dreadful night the policemen broke into the hostel and started beating the students. At the time, I was studying in my room as I had my exams the very next day (10th April). I continued with my work, and did not try to flee as I was quite sure that I would not be harmed as I’ m a foreign student. Moreover I had not done anything wrong. I heard the screams and cries of the students who were being beaten, but I chose to remain in my room. I was searching for my passport, when suddenly, the policemen kicked open the door and started beating me. I told them that I’ m a foreign student, and even tried to show them my passport, but they continued to thrash and abuse me. They dragged me out of my room, and I was held by a policeman, while the other continued to beat me with his lathi. As I was dragged form the third floor to the main gate, I was exposed to severe lathi blows of the various policemen who were prowling on the staircase and in every corner of the hostel. They hit various parts of my body, especially my left arm and hands with which I was trying to protect my head. I was also assaulted on my back and calf. The scars of this brutal beating are still visible. After that we were stuffed into the waiting vans and were taken to a police station, where we were in custody for more than twenty four hours. In the police station, I told the personnels incharge that I hailed from Yemen, and I requested them to allow me to contact my embassy. But they did not comply. When I returned to my room after being released from custody, I was horrified to find that my money (One thousand US dollars) was missing from my wallet which was kept in my locked. Even my wrist watch was stolen.
Irfan Baba It was 9.30 m, and I was studying with my friends in my room. As the police were firing tear gas shells, I closed the door of my room. Within spur of a moment, I heard shouts and cries of my hostel mates. Even though I got nervous, I sat quietly. The policemen approached my room and knocked the door violently. Alarmed by their violent approach , we remained silent. Within a few moments, they broke the door and started hitting us with their lathis and other vicious objects. I cried that I was not among the culprits, but it was of no use. They continued to beat me, and hurled abuses like nobody’ s business. I was thrown into a police vehicle with other students. Even a criminal is not treated,, the way we were handled by the Delhi Police. On my return I found my table clock and cash missing. I am in a state of deep shock, and moreover my career is at stake after all these things that I have gone through.
Afasar Ahmed Khan I was studying with my friend in SRK hostel on the night of 9th April 2000, when suddenly the police force barged into my friends room and started assaulting us. They gave us a savage and ruthless beating. Later they took me to the New Friends Colony Police Station and finally I was shifted to the Tihar Jail. I was falsely charged in the court. I was beaten so brutally that I sustained severe injuries in my legs, hands and back. I would like the government to take severe action against the police.
The irresponsible Delhi police stormed my room at 10:30 pm without any notice, beat me brutally and left my room ransacked. The policemen dragged my out of my room and ceaselessly kicked and thrashed me. They continued to beat me till I was thrown in a gypsy. In the meanwhile, when I told them my name (Manish), they abused me and beat me more, and commented ‘ Why are you studying in a place like Jamia’ . I couldn’ t understand the message they wanted to convey. In the lockup, I was not given water and food and the policemen kept hurling abuses. They took away Rs 200/- from my purse which was kept in my room. They also broke a couple of alarm clocks kept there. I am disturbed mentally as well as physically. Even today, after one week since the day of this incidence. I am unable to sense a reason,, as to why I was given such kind of physical and psychological injuries?
Waseem Ahmad We are the victims of Human Rights violation committed by the Delhi police. This humble self was brutally beaten, thrashed and abused by the Delhi Police on 9th Apr. 2000 at 10:10 pm, in SRK Hostel, Jamia Millia Islamia. My purse and watch were snatched by the policemen in the Srinivaspuri police station., New Delhi. I was tortured the whole night without any specific reason. I plead you help us come out of the shock by punishing and bring the culprits to the book.
Mohd. Yusuf On the night of this terrifying incident I was in the mosque of SRK Hostel, when suddenly Police entered the mosque with their shoes on, breaking the window panes and using abusive languages. The policemen called me a criminal and an ISI agent. They started beating me brutally and pulled me out of the mosque. In the process I was also assaulted with rifle butts, due to which my leg was broken and my whole body writhing in pain. Then I was stuffed into the police gypsy and taken to AIIMS. On the way I was continuously beaten and my beard was pulled. They also took my I-card. Later I was taken to the Srinivaspur Police Station, where the fellow students and I were kept in a dirty room. We were neither given water nor food during the 24 hour of custody. Next day, at around 4 pm they took us to the Tihar jail after taking snaps with identification on slates on our chest. They also snatched my MLC issued by AIIMS.
Akram Nawaz (B.A. Arabic) I was studying for my third paper (Public Administration) in the reading room of JMI at about 8:30 pm on 9 April, 2000, when suddenly a terrible noise caught my attention. I reached to the JMI main road where a big crowd of JMI students had gathered. After a short while the Delhi Police resorted to Lathi charge, and the students in response pelted stones. I reached to the SRK Hostel to escape from the unpredictable acts of Delhi police. But after about 30 min, police attacked the hostel and started abusing and beating students badly. Many doors were broken by the police. Subsequently, the police approached the room where I was sitting (Room no. 215). When after receiving sever threats we did not open the door, it was smashed open by them. Having entered, they beat us badly and abused continuously. I pleaded for mercy, but they didn’ t stop. They described their gruesome attack as Kargil war. We were asked frequently as to why we sported beards and why we studied in JMI. India is claimed to be a secular state and every citizen has the right to lead his life following his religion then why this injustice? Is this freedom? Had our forefathers attained freedom so that abuses are hurled at us and physical injuries inflicted. I want justice.
Sabih Ahmed On that night at 9:30 pm, I was studying with my classmates in the SRK Hostel, when tear gas shells were fired on the hostel. We immediately stopped our studies and locked the door. After sometime, a police team comprising 500-600 policemen raided the hostel. They also fired rubber bullets on the window panes. Later a few policemen knocked at our door, but we didn’t open the door, out of fear. Then they broke open the door and started beating us with lathis. They continued to thrash me till I was thrown into the police van waiting outside. In the van I was there with 6 students and a policeman. That policeman assaulted us all through the way to Sriniwaspuri Police Station. There we were thrashed again. Due to this inhumane attack I sustained injuries on my legs, head, shoulders arm and various other parts of the body.
Ferdous Ahmed On the day of incidence I was studying in my room with my room mate for the next exam of M.A. (P) (Geography). Suddenly few policemen numbering around 12 knocked heavily shouting abuses. The door was given so much thrust that we were left with no alternative but o open the door. Entering the room they slammed my head with rifle butts and also broke my hand. They labelled us as ISI agents and continued with their thrashing. It seemed as it I was a hockey ball and the policemen hockey players weilding hockey sticks. I was taken to the police jeep where I lost my consciousness. I remember my head being stitched with local anesthesia in AIIMS. After being discharged I was sent to Srinivaspuri Police Station where the students present were being beaten. I also received thrashing at some intervals. After a long drama next day, I was taken to Patiala house and from there without any wastage of time I was taken to the Tihar Jail. Then I was treated like an animal . On the night of 13th April when I came back I found that my wrist watch along with Rs 400 cash which was kept in my room, missing. So please help us fight this war against the culprits.
We are trying hard to get hold on more letters as soon as possible.
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