Congress MP Venugopal alleges police brutality on girl students at CEC protest
Synopsis
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has alleged that Delhi Police brutally assaulted female NSUI students during a demonstration demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation at Rajiv Chowk — with two students hospitalised overnight. Delhi Police has yet to respond, and Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet the injured activists, keeping the political pressure building.
Key Takeaways
Venugopal alleged on 14 October that police brutally assaulted female students at a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi .
The NSUI organised the demonstration at Rajiv Chowk Metro station , demanding the CEC's resignation over alleged electoral irregularities.
Two female students were reportedly hospitalised overnight; one student, identified as Athira , alleged the assault occurred without women police officers present initially.
NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar and IYC national in-charge Manish Sharma visited the injured activists at Lady Hardinge Hospital .
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet the hospitalised students.
The Delhi Police had not issued a response to the allegations as of the time of reporting.
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Wednesday, 14 October alleged that police personnel brutally assaulted female students during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, after visiting injured activists at Lady Hardinge Hospital in New Delhi. The allegations follow a protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) at Rajiv Chowk Metro station, where demonstrators had been demanding the CEC's resignation over alleged electoral irregularities.
What Venugopal Alleged
Speaking to reporters after meeting the hospitalised students, Venugopal said the demonstrators had participated peacefully and were raising slogans when they were taken away by police. 'This is a brutal attack on our girl students. Their only crime was that they came for this agitation peacefully and raised their slogans in front of the public. The police took them away at that very moment, without any woman police officer or constable being present there,' he said.
Venugopal further alleged that two female students were subsequently taken away by women constables and subjected to violence. He also stated that Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would meet the students and inform the country about the incident.
NSUI's Account of the Incident
NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar described the situation as extremely serious, claiming that two of their women colleagues were 'brutally beaten and had to remain hospitalised throughout the night.' He alleged that NSUI members had been demonstrating peacefully when police personnel targeted and assaulted them.
Venugopal also cited an account from one of the injured students, identified as Athira, who allegedly said the assault occurred after police asked whether the students would comply only if women police personnel were present — and then proceeded to beat them. These claims, however, are yet to be independently verified.
Background: The Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The demonstration at Rajiv Chowk was organised by the NSUI to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over what the Congress-affiliated organisations have termed alleged electoral irregularities. Several demonstrators, including Jakhar, were detained by police during the protest.
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national in-charge Manish Sharma, along with Jakhar and NSUI national in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, visited the injured activists at Lady Hardinge Hospital on Tuesday to enquire about their health. The IYC issued a statement alleging excessive use of force by police.
Opposition Demands and Police Response
The IYC has demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and appropriate action against anyone found responsible for the alleged unlawful use of force. As of the time of reporting, the Delhi Police had not issued an official response to the allegations made by the Congress-affiliated youth organisations.
This incident comes amid a broader wave of protests in Delhi over alleged electoral irregularities and growing calls for accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The absence of an immediate official rebuttal has drawn further scrutiny to the handling of the demonstration.
Point of View
But the absence of a Delhi Police response means only one side of this account is on record. The NSUI's choice to protest against the CEC — rather than the government directly — signals a deliberate attempt to shift scrutiny toward the Election Commission's independence, a narrative Congress has been building for months. Whether or not the police action constituted unlawful force, the images of hospitalised students are politically damaging for the administration. The real test will be whether an independent inquiry is ordered — or whether, as has happened with previous protest-related complaints, the matter settles into competing press statements.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Congress MP K.C. Venugopal allege about the CEC protest?
Venugopal alleged that Delhi Police brutally assaulted female NSUI students during a peaceful demonstration against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Rajiv Chowk Metro station in New Delhi. He made these allegations after visiting injured students at Lady Hardinge Hospital on 14 October.
Why were students protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The NSUI organised the protest to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. The demonstration was held at Rajiv Chowk Metro station in New Delhi.
Who were the students injured and where are they being treated?
Two female NSUI members were reportedly hospitalised overnight following the alleged police action. One injured student, identified as Athira, is among those being treated at Lady Hardinge Hospital in New Delhi.
Has Delhi Police responded to the allegations?
As of the time of reporting, Delhi Police had not issued an official response to the allegations of excessive force made by the Congress-affiliated NSUI and Indian Youth Congress.
What action has the Congress demanded over the alleged assault?
The Indian Youth Congress has demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and appropriate action against anyone found responsible for alleged unlawful use of force. Rahul Gandhi is also expected to meet the injured students.
