The October 10 Attacks Expose a Disturbing Reality About Democracy and Police Accountability in India
For years, I have been raising my voice against the politicization of India’s police system. I have repeatedly argued that law enforcement institutions are increasingly being used to protect those in political power rather than the ordinary citizens they are sworn to serve.
What happened on the streets of New Delhi on October 10, 2026, has only strengthened my conviction.
The disturbing events were not simply another confrontation between protesters and police. They raised a far more serious question about the functioning of Indian democracy: Has the police uniform become a shield for political power instead of a symbol of justice?
Protesters Detained While Attackers Assaulted Citizens
On October 10, thousands of people attempted to demonstrate in New Delhi against alleged electoral irregularities and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Instead of facilitating peaceful democratic expression, Delhi Police imposed sweeping restrictions and detained more than 2,000 protesters, according to Reuters.
Yet the most disturbing scenes emerged from videos showing men physically assaulting young protesters, including women, while police personnel were nearby.
The footage raises an unavoidable question.
How can a police force mobilize thousands of officers to detain citizens exercising their democratic rights, yet apparently fail to protect those same citizens when they are physically attacked?
Four men were arrested on October 11 in connection with the recorded assaults. The accused reportedly identified themselves as members of Hindu Raksha Dal. Protest organizers alleged BJP-RSS involvement, although a direct organizational link has not been independently established.
These arrests are welcome, but they do not erase the questions surrounding police conduct at the scene.
Delhi Police Must Answer to the People, Not Political Masters
I have long maintained that political interference has severely damaged public confidence in India’s law enforcement institutions.
The events in Delhi illustrate exactly why.
Delhi Police operates under the administrative authority of the central government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This makes the BJP-led central government politically accountable for the functioning of the police in the national capital.
When police detain peaceful demonstrators while violent attackers appear able to operate in their presence, citizens are entitled to question whether policing decisions are influenced by political considerations.
A police force that shows its strength against peaceful protesters but hesitates to confront violent attackers is failing the very purpose for which it exists.
Police officers do not swear an oath of loyalty to the BJP, Congress, or any other political party.
Their duty is to the Constitution and the people.
If political influence determines who is detained, who is protected, and who is permitted to intimidate others, the rule of law is replaced by selective enforcement.
BJP Leadership Cannot Escape Political Responsibility
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government regularly celebrate India as the world’s largest democracy.
But democracy is not measured by slogans, international speeches, or election campaigns.
It is measured by the freedom ordinary citizens possess to challenge their government without fear.
The October 10 protests arose amid serious allegations concerning electoral roll revisions. The Election Commission and BJP have denied wrongdoing, and those allegations must be examined on their evidence.
However, disputed allegations about elections cannot justify violence against demonstrators.
The government must answer why such extensive police resources were deployed to prevent demonstrations and whether adequate measures were taken to protect protesters from physical attacks.
The central government cannot demand public respect for law and order while avoiding scrutiny of how that law is enforced.
As a Member of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), I Refuse to Remain Silent
As a member of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), I believe that political freedom, human dignity, and the right to challenge injustice are fundamental principles that no government should be permitted to suppress.
For decades, Sikhs and other minority communities have raised concerns about police misconduct, political interference, and the misuse of state authority.
Too often, their concerns have been dismissed or ignored.
Today, the disturbing images are emerging from New Delhi, where students and political protesters have faced violence and detention.
The identities of the victims may change. Their political beliefs may differ. But the fundamental issue remains the same.
When police institutions become more concerned with protecting political authority than defending constitutional rights, every citizen becomes vulnerable.
This is precisely why I have consistently questioned whether India’s institutions provide meaningful accountability when allegations of abuse involve powerful political interests.
The October 10 events deserve serious international attention, not because every officer has been proven guilty of wrongdoing, but because the available footage and reporting raise questions that cannot be answered through official silence.
Cameras Have Exposed the Violence. Who Will Investigate the Police?
In an age when almost every major incident can be recorded, the public no longer has to rely exclusively on official accounts.
The footage from Delhi has provided evidence of physical assaults.
What remains to be established is whether officers present had a reasonable opportunity to intervene, why the violence was not immediately stopped, and whether any political influence affected the police response.
An independent investigation should examine police actions, preserve the original recordings, identify any failures of duty, and determine whether disciplinary or criminal proceedings are warranted.
Arresting four alleged attackers must not become an excuse to avoid investigating police accountability.
India’s citizens deserve to know whether the law was applied equally.
My Message to the Indian Government
I have said it before, and I will say it again:
A democracy cannot function when its police institutions are perceived as instruments of political power.
The October 10 events reinforce my longstanding concern that India’s law enforcement system is vulnerable to political interference and that existing accountability mechanisms are insufficient.
The BJP-led government must recognize that police authority comes with constitutional obligations.
A uniform does not place an officer above the law.
Political power does not provide immunity from public scrutiny.
And citizens do not surrender their fundamental rights simply because they disagree with the ruling government.
The people of India deserve police officers who protect them, not institutions that intimidate them into silence.
When peaceful protesters are detained, violent attackers are filmed assaulting citizens, and police officers appear unable or unwilling to protect the victims, the question is no longer simply who broke the law.
The question is whether those entrusted with enforcing the law are fulfilling their duty to the people.
Until that question is answered through independent investigation and meaningful accountability, India’s claims of democratic freedom will continue to face serious scrutiny.
These are my personal political views as a member of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).
