Delhi Police Deploys PSO Outside Woman's Home to Stop Her from Joining CJP Protest, Writes Brinda Karat to Commissioner

New Delhi – In a sharply worded letter to the Commissioner of Police, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has accused the New Rajinder Nagar police station of illegally harassing, interrogating, and placing a 23-year-old woman under “virtual house arrest” to prevent her from joining a political demonstration.

The complaint, addressed to Commissioner Satish Golchha, details what Karat describes as a “wholly illegal” operation targeting Aahana Singh Kaith, a postgraduate student who had just completed her Master’s final examination on June 4.

According to the letter, the incident began on June 5 at around 12:30 pm, when a group of policemen accompanied by one woman officer, entered a local gym named “Anything Fitness” in New Rajinder Nagar. After asking staff to identify Aahana, the officers took her to the parking area of a nearby coaching institute, Sriram IAS, where she was surrounded and interrogated.

Karat names two officers from the group: an officer identified as “Shivam” and a woman sub-inspector named Rita. She alleges that Aahana was questioned about her family background, education, and repeatedly pressed about her political views. “She was warned not to go to the CJP (Cockroach Janta party) demonstration the next day,” Karat writes. When Aahana stated she had no intention of attending, the police allegedly replied, “We have information about you and that you are planning to go.”

The young woman was also told to inform the police about anyone she knew who was planning to attend the protest effectively, Karat alleges, threatening her into becoming a police informer.

Aahana was then forced to show her WhatsApp messages to the officers, despite objecting that a court order was required. Even after cooperating, she was warned that she was being placed under surveillance.

The situation escalated that evening. Around 8 pm, a police personnel named Ritu arrived at Aahana’s flat and informed her that she had been deputed as a Personal Security Officer (PSO) to monitor her movements. The officer demanded that Aahana share her live location and warned her not to leave the house. “If she did, she should share her live location or action would be taken,” Karat’s letter states.

The following morning, June 6, the same PSO returned to the flat, repeatedly ringing the doorbell, and again demanded a live location. It was later that day that Aahana, described by Karat as “tearful and extremely anxious,” called the CPI(M) leader for help.

Karat says she immediately called the officer Ritu, who admitted that she had been given the duty by New Rajinder Nagar Thana. Ritu also acknowledged, despite not being present at the gym, that Aahana had been taken from there and warned not to join any protest. Shortly after Karat’s call, Aahana received another call from a person named Kiran, asking if she had left the house.

“Sir, you will agree that this is the most extraordinary misuse of police authority,” Karat writes to the Police Commissioner. “A young woman is picked up by predominantly male police without any warrant; she is interrogated, again without any warrant; her phone is checked, her privacy violated, again without any authority; she is placed under surveillance and virtual house arrest without any charges or explanation.”

Karat further points out the contradiction in the Delhi Police’s stance. “On the one hand the Delhi Police claims it is committed to protect constitutional rights and therefore gave permission for the gathering by the CJP, and on the other hand the same police is intimidating and threatening young people like Aahana not to join the demonstration. It is highly condemnable and unacceptable.”

She has demanded immediate action against the officers involved, including those who issued the alleged illegal orders, and has offered to provide further clarification if required.

Aahana, Karat notes, is currently preparing for a public examination. “But even if she was not and had decided to join the demonstration, it is her democratic right to do so and the police have no right to prevent her,” the letter adds.

The letter raises urgent questions about how many other young people may have faced similar intimidation ahead of the CJP demonstration.