Delhi Police file FIR after Kashmiri youth allegedly assaulted at Congress protest in CP
Synopsis
A Kashmiri youth who claims to be a Modi supporter says he was beaten at a Congress-led protest in Connaught Place for carrying the PM's photograph — a claim denied by protesters who allege he abused Rahul Gandhi first. With a video circulating and the BJP calling it an 'anarchist mindset', Delhi Police have filed an FIR, and the disputed incident has become the latest flashpoint in an already charged political standoff.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons on 9 October 2026 following a complaint by Fahim Nazir , a resident of Srinagar .
Nazir alleged he was assaulted at a Congress -led protest in Connaught Place after arriving with a photograph of PM Narendra Modi .
Protesters at the site alleged that Nazir had verbally abused Rahul Gandhi before the altercation; Nazir denied this.
A video of the incident circulating on social media purportedly shows Nazir being surrounded and struck by crowd members.
BJP spokespersons Pradeep Bhandari and Sajid Yousuf Shah condemned the alleged assault, accusing Congress workers of an 'anarchist mindset'.
Delhi Police stated all aspects of the incident will be investigated; no arrests have been announced.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons after a Kashmiri youth alleged he was assaulted on 9 October 2026 during a protest by Congress leaders at Connaught Place in New Delhi. The complainant, a self-described supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claimed he was attacked after arriving at the protest site carrying a photograph of the Prime Minister.
What the Complainant Said
Fahim Nazir, a resident of Srinagar, told reporters: 'EVMs were brought by Rajiv Gandhi for the first time in 1998. You all have the footage. I did not abuse Rahul Gandhi, but I was beaten badly.' Nazir said he had come to the protest site to raise awareness about what he described as a conspiracy to destabilise India. 'Questions should be asked of Rahul Gandhi. This is freedom of speech,' he added.
According to Nazir, he was surrounded, pushed, dragged, and repeatedly struck by members of the crowd after he raised slogans in support of the Prime Minister. Delhi Police confirmed the complaint has been received and stated that all aspects of the incident would be investigated.
A Contested Sequence of Events
The incident is disputed. While Nazir denied making any offensive remarks, protesters at the site alleged that he had verbally abused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, before the confrontation escalated. A video circulating on social media purportedly shows Nazir being surrounded and struck repeatedly by people in the crowd, though the full sequence of events preceding the altercation remains unclear pending the police investigation.
BJP Condemns the Alleged Assault
The incident triggered swift condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared the video on social media, accusing Congress workers of displaying an 'anarchist mindset'. Fellow BJP spokesperson Sajid Yousuf Shah also criticised the alleged assault and questioned the Congress party's commitment to dissent and freedom of expression.
Context: The Ongoing Opposition Protests
The protest at Connaught Place was part of a broader campaign by the Congress and allied opposition parties against alleged discrepancies in the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The demonstrations have also taken aim at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This comes amid heightened political tension between the ruling dispensation and the opposition over electoral roll management, with the SIR exercise becoming a flashpoint in recent weeks.
Notably, the assault allegation involving a Kashmiri youth adds a sharper edge to the narrative, with both sides seeking to frame the incident on their own terms ahead of what is likely to be an intensifying political season.
Delhi Police have not announced any arrests so far; the investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
And the Congress-led SIR agitation, however legitimate its electoral concerns, carries a management burden that incidents like this will test. For the Opposition, protecting the right to protest credibly requires policing its own crowds — something this episode suggests is not yet guaranteed.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Kashmiri youth at the Congress protest in Delhi?
Fahim Nazir, a resident of Srinagar, alleged he was surrounded, pushed, and repeatedly struck by members of the crowd at a Congress-led protest in Connaught Place on 9 October after he arrived carrying a photograph of PM Modi and raised slogans in his support. Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons based on his complaint.
What is the Congress party's version of the incident?
Protesters at the site alleged that Nazir had verbally abused Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi before the physical confrontation began. The Congress has not officially commented on the FIR, but the competing accounts mean the facts remain disputed pending the police investigation.
What did the BJP say about the alleged assault?
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared video footage of the incident on social media and accused Congress workers of displaying an 'anarchist mindset'. Fellow BJP spokesperson Sajid Yousuf Shah also criticised the alleged assault and questioned the Congress's commitment to free expression and dissent.
What was the Congress-led protest in Connaught Place about?
The protest was part of a broader opposition campaign against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise for electoral rolls. The demonstrations have also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR process.
What is the current status of the Delhi Police investigation?
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons and confirmed that all aspects of the incident will be investigated. No arrests have been announced as of the time of this report.
