CJP October 10 protest: NLSIU students, Harvard affiliates raise concerns over detentions, police misconduct

Students of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, and around 100 alumni, students, faculty members and staff of Harvard University have issued separate statements condemning police action against protesters across India on October 10 . The statements expressed solidarity with peaceful protesters, criticised detentions and alleged violations of constitutional rights. Both also highlighted the treatment of senior advocate Shadan Farasat, who was detained and allegedly manhandled by police while attempting to prevent the detention of a protester.

In a statement of solidarity and condemnation, NLSIU students said a number of their fellow students and alumni had been unlawfully detained on October 10, with some detentions allegedly involving violence and aggression. They said thousands of people across the country had faced similar action, with some held for hours or transported to distant locations.

The students said the right to peaceful protest was guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions, and alleged that the police action violated fundamental and personal rights.

Referring to Farasat, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court, the NLSIU students said his alleged manhandling demonstrated disregard for the dignity and personal rights of people participating in peaceful protests. They described him as an inspiration to students and expressed support for him.

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Students express solidarity with protesters

The statement also criticised what the students described as the state's ability to organise large-scale action against dissent while failing to demonstrate similar urgency in addressing other pressing concerns. They alleged that, in several locations, casual-clothed individuals claiming to be police officers had participated in violent detentions alongside police personnel, including the physical harassment of women protesters.

The students further criticised police action against peaceful protesters in opposition-ruled states, including at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. They said they stood in solidarity with everyone exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Separately, around 100 Harvard University alumni, students, faculty members and staff issued a statement dated October 12 condemning what they described as an “unprecedented siege of Delhi” by police and paramilitary forces, along with arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional police action against peaceful protesters across the country on October 10.

The Harvard-affiliated signatories expressed solidarity with Farasat, identified in the statement as a Harvard Law School alumnus from the class of 2009, and Mehr Pasricha, a Harvard Kennedy School alumna from the class of 2025.

According to the statement, Farasat was detained and manhandled by police while attempting to prevent the alleged illegal detention of a peaceful protester. The signatories said preventing lawyers from providing legal assistance would undermine the functioning of the law-and-order system.

The statement also alleged that Pasricha was detained while having breakfast at Laxmi Nagar Market, despite not being at a protest site. It said she was held for 13 hours without being given paperwork or grounds for her detention during that period.

The Harvard-affiliated signatories called on the government and law enforcement authorities to stop violations of constitutional rights, respect the rights to peaceful protest and access to legal assistance, and ensure accountability for those responsible for abuses in accordance with the rule of law.