Jaipur: Rajasthan Congress on Tuesday demonstrated outside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate over the alleged assault of NSUI national secretary Ritu Barala by Delhi Police personnel in Delhi. Congress leaders demanded registration of zero FIR in the case. During this, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie raised questions on the police action.
Dotasara said – give a copy of the FIR registered in Delhi
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara said that if an FIR has been registered in the case of alleged assault on Ritu Barala in Delhi, then its copy should be made available. He said that Congress leaders will return as soon as they get the copy.
Dotasara alleged that the FIR registered by Delhi Police is being used to harass the youth. He said that the complainant and the accused cannot be the same person. Congress also raised questions on the arguments of the police.
Tikaram Julie said- Rajasthan's daughter should get justice
Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tikaram Julie said that if a case has not been registered on the complaint in Delhi or anywhere in Rajasthan, then the police should register an FIR. He alleged that Ritu Barala was assaulted, after which she had to be admitted to the hospital. Despite this, they have to go to different places to get justice.
Citing Section 173(1) of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), Julie said that under it there is a provision to register zero FIR in any police station. He said that registration of FIR does not mean that the accused will be immediately convicted. The matter can be investigated and Congress is only demanding justice.
Police refused to register zero FIR
Jaipur Additional Police Commissioner Dr. Ajay Singh said that the police has made its legal position clear. According to him, the victim has already given her complaint in the concerned police station, hence it is not possible to register zero FIR in this case.
He said that Zero FIR is registered in a situation when the victim is unable to reach the police station having proper jurisdiction over his case and lodges a complaint in a nearby police station. He left the decision to end the protest to the Congress leaders.
BJP state president Madan Rathod targeted Congress
Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathod criticized the Congress's protest and said that the complaint should be lodged at the place where the alleged incident took place. He said that if the concerned police officer does not register an FIR, the complainant can apply before the Judicial Magistrate.
Referring to Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Rathore said that now related legal procedure can be adopted under Section 175 of BNSS also. He termed Congress's performance as a political stunt and alleged that the party only wants to grab headlines.
Police detained NSUI workers in Delhi
Earlier, NSUI workers protesting outside Sansad Marg police station in Delhi were detained by the police. The protesters were protesting against the alleged assault on the workers and allegations of FIR not being registered.
Athira Vijayan, a Delhi University law student and NSUI activist from Kerala's Kozhikode district, also alleged that she was assaulted by policemen during a protest near Connaught Place on October 13. In his complaint he claimed to have been injured. According to him, he and other protesters were detained and taken by bus to Connaught Place, where they were forcibly removed from the bus and allegedly beaten in a public place.
At present, Rajasthan Congress has raised the demand of registering a zero FIR in this case, while the police, clarifying its legal position, has refused to register it. The allegations made in the case can be confirmed only after investigation.