Kerala Police on Thursday registered a zero FIR over the alleged assault on National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) activist Athira Vijayan during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi.
The development comes a day after Delhi Police registered a in connection with an altercation inside a police detention bus.
The zero FIR was registered at the Museum police station in Thiruvananthapuram following a complaint by Vijayan to the Kerala state police chief. The alleged incident took place on October 13 during a flash protest by NSUI activists at Connaught Place.
The FIR claims that the accused struck her on the face, held her arms behind her back and kicked her in the private parts and lower abdomen. When she resisted an attempt to snatch her phone, the accused allegedly tightened the shawl around her neck and threatened to kill her.
The complaint states that the alleged assault caused neck injuries requiring hospital treatment, besides humiliation and mental distress. The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to assault on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, attempt to disrobe a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation.
The FIR does not name any police official or other individual as an accused, officials said. Vijayan had earlier alleged that Delhi Police failed to register a case despite her complaint.
A zero FIR can be registered at any police station, regardless of where the alleged offence occurred. Kerala Police said the investigation would be transferred to the appropriate police station in Delhi.
Delhi Police Files Separate FIR Against NSUI Workers
On Wednesday, Delhi Police registered an FIR against NSUI women workers following a reported physical altercation inside a detention bus during the protest against Gyanesh Kumar. The action came amid allegations by NSUI that its members had been assaulted by police personnel.
A video circulated on social media purportedly showed a woman police officer pulling an NSUI activist by her hair while placing her on a bus. NSUI demanded accountability and sought access to CCTV footage from the police station.
The protests were part of a wider campaign demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the SIR exercise.
The electoral roll revision has triggered a political confrontation between the Opposition and the Election Commission, with protesters alleging irregularities and the authorities facing questions over their handling of demonstrations.