Rahul Gandhi introduces protester as ‘our sherni’, Kerala student alleges police assault left her deaf in one ear

New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday introduced a female protester as “our sherni” at a press conference, alleging that she had been assaulted during a protest in New Delhi.

Gandhi also spoke about Athira, a student from Kerala studying at Delhi University, who he claimed had lost hearing in one ear after being struck during the police action against protesters.

“I want to introduce our ‘sherni’. She was beaten, but she was not afraid. There was no hatred in her heart,” Gandhi said while introducing the protester.

The woman alleged that she was assaulted by a woman police constable during a protest involving National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers.

According to her account, the protesters were detained in three buses, each carrying around 30 to 40 people. She said her bus had two women and around 20 to 30 other NSUI members.

“There was a woman constable in the bus named Chanchal Yadav,” she alleged.

She said the protesters attempted to get off the bus and resume their demonstration. They also tried to stop the vehicle and sat beneath it to continue their protest.

“But Chanchal Yadav grabbed me tightly by the neck and pushed me, causing me to fall backwards onto the seat. She then scratched my face with her nails, leaving scratches across my face and near my ear,” she alleged.

Describing what happened when she resisted, the protester said the constable slapped her.

“She slapped me so hard and said, ‘Here, take another slap across your face,’” she alleged.

Rahul Gandhi says Kerala student lost hearing in one ear

Addressing the press conference, Gandhi alleged that Athira had suffered a serious injury during the police action.

“Athira from Kerala has lost her hearing in one ear. She is deaf in one ear because she was struck on that ear. She can no longer hear. Last time I showed you a boy who was blinded. Now, she is deaf in one ear,” he said.

Athira, a Kerala student studying at Delhi University, alleged that there were no female police personnel on the bus when the protesters were detained.

“Yesterday, when they detained us, there were no female police officers in the bus. So, I simply asked, ‘Where is the lady police officer or lady constable?’ If they want to detain us, having at least one female constable present is mandatory,” she said.

Athira alleged that the bus subsequently moved and stopped in front of the Connaught Place police station, where she was assaulted.

“Then, the bus moved and stopped in front of the Connaught Place police station, where they continuously hit my entire cheek. Because of this, I have an injury to my eye and damage to my ear...” she said.

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The allegations come amid concerns over police action against protesters in the national capital. The accounts presented at the press conference have raised questions about the treatment of detained demonstrators and the alleged use of force against women protesters.