Delhi University student, 2 others detained by police, threatened for defiling Hinduism

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“Dinesh Kumar, the station house officer of Parliament Street police station said I should live in Pakistan, not India. He said, being a Jain, I should be ashamed of myself and should not do dirty things by eating beef and add to the Hindu dharm bhrasht (defile Hindu religion). When I told him that… I was not a follower of Jainism, he said it was impossible. He said he would not only physically torture me but would also slap charges under the 1994 law which makes slaughter of cows or calfs illegal in Delhi, and charges of inciting communal violence,” said Gaurav.

Mayank and Gaurav were taken away to separate rooms. While Mayank protested that he was a journalist with online news website, Scroll.in, police refused to believe him.

Mayank said, “…The SHO refused to believe me when I said I had come to Ashoka Road to cover the protest, not participate in it. He tore up my visiting card and bent my ID card. He said he was surrounded by journalists everyday, journalists who touched his feet and revered him. Therefore, he could do anything to me even if I was one. I was forced to stand for hours and not allowed to eat or go to the washroom… I asked him to call my editors and verify but he did not do so. Finally, they took down my personal details before letting me go.”

On being asked why Mayank was detained, DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said, “I do not know about it yet. We detained three persons, one was Gaurav Jain, who gave the call for the beef party. There were two persons along with him. We will look into the matter.”
Gayathri, a UPSC aspirant was the third person detained. Police allegedly told her that she would never become a civil servant or serve the country as she was indulging in impure acts such as as eating beef.

They were released after 8 pm Sunday. Police refused to comment on whether they had found beef on the protesters. “It’s a sensitive issue,” said Narwal.