New Delhi: Two Malayali students in Delhi were allegedly subjected to a brutal assault by a group of attackers, with the involvement of police officers, following accusations of theft. The students claim that the violence escalated after they spoke in English instead of Hindi. They also allege that one was kicked in the face. Complaints have been submitted to the Delhi Police Commissioner and the National Human Rights Commission.

The victims, Ashwanth I T from Kozhikode and K Sudhin from Kasaragod, are first-year Political Science students at Zakir Husain Delhi College. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday evening near a market close to Red Fort.

Around 7 pm, a man approached them claiming to be selling a mobile phone and a watch. The students declined the offer. Shortly afterwards, the same individual returned with a group of six men and accused the students of stealing the phone. The group allegedly began to assault the students.

When the students sought help from a nearby police officer, they claim he joined the group in physically assaulting them. One student’s mobile phone was also allegedly taken during the attack.

Assault continued at the police station

Ashwanth alleged that when they attempted to explain the situation to officers at the nearby police station, no one was willing to listen. Sudhin was also brought to the station, where the students allege that both the police and local residents beat them in public view.

According to the students, they tried to explain the situation in English, as they were not fluent in Hindi, which further provoked the police. One of them claims he was beaten with a fibre baton. They were released only after senior students from the college intervened. The injured students have sought medical treatment at a hospital.

MPs demand immediate action

MP John Brittas has written to the Delhi Police Commissioner demanding strict action against the officers involved. In his letter, Brittas highlighted the disturbing fact that the student was mocked for wearing a traditional Kerala mundu and beaten for communicating in English due to lack of fluency in Hindi.

Another MP V Sivadasan has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding urgent action over the incident.