Assaulted in police vehicle, abandoned on wayside: John Brittas writes to President

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas has penned a letter to the President, Vice President, and Chief Justice of India, demanding immediate action following his alleged assault in a police vehicle, and subsequent abandonment on the roadside. Brittas, in an X post, denounced the incident as not only an assault on a member of parliament, but also on democratic freedoms and the rule of law.

He emphasized that the assault occurred in the wake of Supreme Court directions to protect peaceful protests and constitutional rights. Brittas contended that the government cannot quell dissent with force, and that democracy thrives on addressing dissent, not suppressing it. He also stressed that the strength of a democracy lies in its ability to safeguard dissent, not in its capacity to stifle it.

Brittas's letter to the President highlights the gravity of the situation, raising questions about the rule of law, the guarantee of democratic dissent, and the accountability of law enforcement personnel. The alleged assault took place hours after the Supreme Court issued directives to protect peaceful protestors against illegal detentions and to ensure uninterrupted internet connectivity and normal railway and metro services.

Upon revealing his identity as an MP, Brittas alleged that the assault continued despite his claims of unlawful detention. He revealed that he was later abandoned on the roadside as the DCP in charge deemed the detention unlawful. Brittas sought the President's intervention, urging her to seek a comprehensive report from the Union and Delhi governments, and to initiate an impartial and independent investigation into the incident.