'Pinned down by five CRPF personnel, difficulty breathing'; Left leaders allege facing brutal assault amid Delhi protest

NEW DELHI: Left leaders were allegedly manhandled by police amid protests in the national capital on Sunday. Videos featuring aggrieved CPM leaders, including MP John Brittas and Jaick C. Thomas, surfaced on social media. In the video, Jaick stated that the police knocked the protesters to the ground and stomped on them. He alleged that activists, including women, were assaulted and their clothes torn. He spoke from inside the police vehicle while in a state of physical distress.

MP John Brittas had arrived at the scene after learning that Left-wing activists had been arrested at Connaught Place. Brittas was allegedly shoved into a vehicle and pinned down against the seat. After being released by the police, Brittas sat on the pavement for a long time, struggling to breathe. He stated that he was released only because of DCP's intervention.

It is alleged that five CRPF personnel pinned Brittas and another person down in their seats. DCP Sachin witnessed the incident from the control room via the police officers' body cameras. Brittas stated that they were released only after Sachin ordered their immediate release upon learning he was an MP. Brittas said he managed to escape because a young man named Sajid arrived and helped him into an auto-rickshaw. He added that they refused to let him go even after he identified himself as an MP and showed his identity card. Sajid, a native of Jharkhand who was with Brittas, alleged that the police had attempted to kill the Kerala MP.