SC Judge Criticizes Police Assault on Protesters

Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Friday expressed dismay over police actions against student protesters, describing the assault on demonstrators as "distressing" and a "matter of grave concern." Speaking at the launch of retired IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad's book "Policing the Republic" in New Delhi, Justice Bhuyan stated that the expected detachment of police officers appears to be diminishing. "All of us are dismayed when we see young officers of the Indian Police Service personally going and assaulting protesters and demonstrators," Justice Bhuyan said. He added that this trend is "very, very distressing to observe" and that the "detachment expected of police officers somehow seems to be disappearing." The judge's remarks come amid scrutiny of police conduct during recent demonstrations. The protests, which involved students and occurred in July, saw alleged use of lathi charges, tear gas, and pellet guns against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and during a Parliament march. These events are currently under investigation by a high-level panel established by the Supreme Court.