Congress today accused Delhi Police of "brutally manhandling" its women workers during a "peaceful" demonstration here against the Moga molestation incident and alleged that the BJP-led government was using the security force to "suppress" the voices of women.
The party also demanded action to be taken against the security personnel involved in the alleged police attack yesterday at India Gate.
Speaking to reporters, Delhi Congress chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee claimed that 14 of its functionaries besides All India Women Congress Committee President Shobha Ojha were injured after they were attacked by police during a candle light march for the Moga molestation victim.
Accusing the central government of using police personnel to "suppress" voices of women, Mukherjee said the matter will be taken before Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
"There has been a rise in crime against women. So, we had organised peaceful candle light march to highlight the issue. But, without any provocation, the police brutally manhandled our workers," Mukherjee, who was accompanied by Ojha and senior party leader Kiran Walia, told reporters.
The party claimed its office-bearers Perpeet Brar and Baby Khan were among those severely injured.
Khan claimed both her hands were wounded and required plaster, while Brar said her left leg was badly hurt.
Mukherjee added that Ojha too was not spared police action, causing bleeding in the latter's ear.
Ojha said she "strongly" condemned the way party activists were allegedly "pushed" into the police van and "kicked" once inside the vehicle.
"We strongly condemn the way the women police thrashed our workers, pulled their hair, tore clothes, were forcibly pushed in bus... They were kicked inside the bus while in custody," she alleged.
On being asked why Congress had planned a protest in the absence of due permission from police even as section 144 (of CrPC, which prohibits mass gathering) was in place, Ojha said her party had applied for the same.
