Published Oct 11, 2026 | 10:28 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2026 | 10:39 PM
Brittas alleged he was dragged to a police vehicle by CRPF personnel, pinned down and assaulted.
Synopsis: CPI(M) MP John Brittas sought intervention from the President, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Chief Justice of India, alleging he was assaulted by police during Sunday’s protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. He sought an independent probe, while opposition leaders condemned the alleged police excesses against protesters and journalists in Delhi.
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has sought the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alleging that police personnel assaulted him during the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday, October 11.
Brittas, who was detained during the protest in central Delhi, was taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital for a medical examination to check for possible chest injuries after the alleged assault.
Speaking to reporters from the hospital, Brittas alleged he was dragged to a police vehicle by CRPF personnel, pinned down and assaulted.
“I was speaking to the press…I was dragged to a police van by CRPF men, despite me telling them that I haven’t violated any law and despite the SC verdict that peaceful protest is a fundamental right… I did not even go near the barricade. In the bus they pinned me down and assaulted…,” Brittas said.
He alleged that only when the DCP learnt of the assault, he was dropped on the road and put in an autorickshaw to be transported to the hospital.
Flanked by RJD leader Manoj Jha and CPI(M) MP A.A. Rahim, Brittas said that, as an MP, he did not expect any special privileges but wanted the rights guaranteed to every Indian citizen.
When asked by reporters whether the alleged assault would deter him from participating in future protests, Brittas said, “Never, ever. We will not budge an inch.”
“We will be here, until our last breath. No matter what the Delhi Police does, we will be here until our last breath!”
#GyaneshMustResign https://t.co/6NyYtyEtgJ
— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) October 11, 2026
Speaking to South First, Shilpa, an eyewitness to the alleged assault, said Brittas fell near the police bus after being manhandled. A video shared by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) showed Brittas collapsing on the steps of a police bus during his detention.
A young protester from Jharkhand came forward to help the MP get back on his feet, Shilpa said.
CPI(M) general secretary M. A. Baby, Politburo member A. Vijayaraghavan and Rajya Sabha MP V. Sivadasan also visited Brittas at the hospital.
In his communication to the President, Brittas sought urgent intervention, an independent investigation and action against the police personnel involved. He also raised concerns over a possible breach of parliamentary privilege.
“The police personnel assaulted me and pinned me to the seat. The assault continued even after I identified myself as a Member of Parliament. My status as an elected representative did not deter them from subjecting me to this degrading and physically abusive treatment. I was then abandoned on the wayside as there was an order from the concerned DCP to release me, as he found the detention completely unlawful. Following the assault, I continue to experience severe physical pain and discomfort,” Brittas said in his letter.
“The concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police was aware of the assault and that my release followed instructions communicated by the DCP over the phone to the personnel in the vehicle. The whole incident, including the role and knowledge of the supervisory officers concerned, needs to be independently investigated,” he alleged.
Alleging that the incident took place without provocation while he was speaking to the media, he described the police action as an infringement of the rights and dignity of an elected representative.
“I was speaking to journalists, not committing an offence. Nothing can justify the use of physical violence against me in the circumstances described,” he said.
“The incident also warrants serious consideration from the standpoint of parliamentary privilege and dignity… I do not claim that membership of Parliament confers immunity from the law. However, physical assault upon a sitting Member, while peacefully engaging with the media on a matter of public importance, warrants serious institutional scrutiny and constitutes a breach of privilege. The police are entrusted with upholding the law; they are not above it. A uniform cannot confer immunity for assault, unlawful detention or abuse of authority,” he noted.
He also referred to the Supreme Court’s directions issued earlier in the day on protecting peaceful protests and constitutional freedom, arguing that the alleged assault raised serious questions about the protection of democratic rights.
Sharing the letter on his X handle, Brittas wrote, “The Government cannot intimidate democracy into silence. It cannot substitute the force of the baton for the force of debate. And it shouldn’t expect the people to surrender their constitutional freedoms merely because those in power find dissent inconvenient. The strength of a democracy lies not in its capacity to suppress dissent, but in its ability to address it.”
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After visiting Brittas, CPI(M) leader M.A Baby alleged that student and youth activists, detained during the protest, were assaulted inside police vehicles, which he described as ”torture camps”.
”Scores of student and youth activists, including SFI President Adarsh M Saji and DYFI CEC member Jaick C Thomas, were assaulted inside police vehicles” he said in a post on X.
Baby also alleged that women protesters were attacked and kept inside police vehicles for hours.
”The police have turned Delhi into a war zone.” he said, adding that the police action would not deter those demanding Kumar’s removal.
Visited Comrade John Brittas at RML Hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted after being brutally attacked by the Delhi Police.
The police have turned Delhi into a war zone. Scores of student and youth activists, including SFI President Adarsh M Saji and DYFI CEC member Jaick C Thomas, were assaulted inside police vehicles that have been turned into torture camps. Women are being cruelly attacked and detained for hours inside mobile jails.
Modi, Amit Shah and Mohan Bhagwat must not be under the impression that unleashing state repression will kill the movement to oust Gyanesh Kumar. The students and youth are fighting to save our democracy. They will not be deterred by these cowardly attempts to break their bodies. Their spirit will not be broken, and their resolve will only grow stronger.
— M A Baby (@MABABYCPIM) October 11, 2026
Brittas also launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police excesses.
”Modi and Shah will pay a heavy price for this. The Delhi Police have become mad dogs.”
Earlier, Brittas had accused the Modi government of losing its moral right to remain in office by allegedly disregarding the Supreme Court’s observations.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the alleged assault on Brittas, calling the use of force against an unarmed protester unacceptable and indefensible.
”Unacceptable use of force by Delhi Police. Beating up an unarmed protestor, setting aside the fact that in this case the victim is actually an elected member of Parliament, is unacceptable under any circumstances and is indefensible.” Omar said in a post on X.
”I join all my JKNC colleagues in condemning this reprehensible brutality,” he added.
Unacceptable use of force by Delhi Police. Beating up an unarmed protestor, setting aside the fact that in this case the victim is actually an elected member of parliament, is unacceptable under any circumstances & is indefensible. I join all my @JKNC_ colleagues in condemning this reprehensible brutality.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 11, 2026
Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal, meanwhile, accused Delhi Police of detaining and assaulting journalists covering the demonstrations, including reporters from news agencies, Malayalam media organisations, independent bloggers and YouTubers. He alleged that women journalists were particularly targeted.
”Every time one thinks that Amit Shah’s Delhi Police couldn’t hit new lows, they go lower. Detaining and assaulting reporters from agencies, Malayalam journalists, independent bloggers and YouTubers – especially women – to hide your own crimes is completely unforgivable. These honest journalists who are showing the ugly truth of this regime are being harassed to suppress the reality from being shown to the world.”
Venugopal also accused the police of using force against citizens exercising their fundamental rights and alleged that groups aligned with the ruling regime were being allowed to attack protesters.
”The Delhi Police has turned the entire city into a torture chamber where innocent citizens exercising their fundamental rights are being chased, thrashed and detained. All this, while vigilante groups aligned with the ruling regime are given a free hand to assault protesters — under full police protection. Modi-Shah are criminal-minded dictators who have decided to go to any lengths to save their regime from collapsing. They know their Vote Chori is out in the open and the public has completely turned against them.”
He asserted that the alleged crackdown would not stop young people from continuing their agitation.
”They should know very well that the youth of India are not cowards like them. No amount of brutality will deter their will to resist this regime. We, the people of India, will succeed. Our satyagraha will win.”
The protest in central Delhi marked the second consecutive day of demonstrations demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstrations were followed by mass detentions and allegations of police excesses.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
