South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, vehemently condemns the abduction, illegal detention, and custodial torture of 10 activists by the police in plain clothes of the special cell of the New Delhi Police between 12 and 14 March 2026. These persons were later released on 14 and 15 March.
SAHR has learned that these 7 male activists and 3 female students are members of Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM), Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM), and Mazdoor Adhikar Sangh (MAS). They had been picked up from various locations in the city, and their families had filed three habeas corpus cases in the Delhi High Court to get them released. It was revealed in the courts that while they had suffered severe torture entailing physical assault, humiliation, and harassment, the police had extracted false statements and forcibly taken signatures of the detainees. Telephones and digital devices belonging to the activists had also been taken away, and the police had put pressure on the families to withdraw their petitions.
This action by the special cell of the Delhi police is a repetition of a systematic campaign, as they had detained 8 members of BSCEM and FACAM in July 2025 for over a week. Therefore, SAHR strongly calls upon the government to halt such harassment and illegal detention and torture of activists. Further, SAHR calls for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and firmly urges the relevant authorities to take punitive measures against the police officials responsible for these illegal actions. The government is obliged to protect and promote the rights and entitlements of the people as enshrined in the constitution of India and must uphold its international human rights obligations.
On behalf of the members of the South Asians for Human Rights
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Bureau Member
Sushil Pyakurel
Bureau Member