Modi's police storm Communist Party of India (Marxist) headquarters in bid to arrest student leader

CPIM HQ (Archive Photo)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned what it describes as an illegal police intrusion into its national headquarters, AKG Bhavan in New Delhi, where officers reportedly attempted to arrest Student Federation of India (SFI) leader Aishe Ghosh.

According to the party, Delhi Police officers arrived in a private vehicle, with some reportedly dressed in civilian clothes, and entered the CPI(M) headquarters in search of Ghosh, who has emerged as one of the leading figures in the student protests at Jantar Mantar. The demonstrations, which have continued for weeks, recently culminated in the resignation of India's Union Minister of Education.

The police operation was firmly challenged by CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, who intervened to prevent what the party described as an unlawful attempt to detain the student leader inside the party's premises. According to the CPI(M), the officers withdrew after being confronted and questioned.

In a statement, the CPI(M) denounced the incident as a serious attack on democratic rights:

"This brazen intrusion into a political party office and the continuing witch hunt against student protesters expose the Modi government's escalating assault on democratic rights. Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of students, the state is using police power to intimidate, silence and criminalise dissent. The CPI(M) strongly condemns this unlawful action and stands firmly with the students fighting for justice, education, and democracy."

CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby also accused the authorities of carrying out a sustained campaign of intimidation against student activists.

"It is learnt that for the past several days, Aishe Ghosh has been continuously followed and surveilled, exposing a blatant campaign of intimidation against student leaders. Such methods have no place in a democracy. The Modi government is using the police to criminalise dissent and silence those raising their voice against injustice instead of answering the legitimate concerns of students. The CPI(M) strongly condemns this intimidation and reaffirms its solidarity with the student movement. We will resolutely resist every attempt to trample upon democratic rights."

The incident has further intensified concerns over the treatment of student movements and opposition forces in India, with the CPI(M) accusing the Modi government of increasingly relying on police intimidation rather than engaging with the demands raised by protesters.

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