THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) strongly condemns the brutal violence perpetrated by the Delhi Police on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University who were holding a peaceful protest against the massive hike in fees and their right to an affordable and accessible education on November 18.

The viciousness of the police is much more atrocious given the fact that even students with disabilities were not spared. A visually impaired student was subjected to indiscriminate beating. This despite his repeatedly pointing out to the police that he is visually impaired. But the insensitive police personnel not only abused him and his disability but subjected him to more beatings.

This brutal action of the Delhi Police at the behest of a government which seeks to mercilessly curb all forms of protest and exercise of democratic rights, cannot be tolerated in any civilised society.

The NPRD expresses its solidarity with the fighting students and demands an immediate rollback of the hefty hike in fees. The manner in which the visually impaired student was verbally abused and physically beaten also calls for sensitisation of the police force at all levels on disability. Action should be taken against the responsible police officials.