Material detailing alleged instances of police violence and excessive use of force during the student protests held across the country in July 2026 has been submitted before the High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) constituted under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The submission has been made in connection with the HPEC’s ongoing enquiry into allegations concerning police and law-enforcement agencies during the protests. The issues before the Committee include excessive force against protesters, targeted violence against female protesters, medical assistance and compensation, and the use of pellet guns.

The material also raises allegations concerning the use of tear gas, lathis with nails, electric batons, disproportionate force, fabrication of evidence, deployment of police/Rapid Action Force personnel without uniforms or name tags, and violence against lawyers and children.

These include details of specific instances of alleged excessive force and violence, a compilation of material previously placed before the Supreme Court, and details identifying police and law-enforcement officers against whom criminal and disciplinary action has been sought.

Background: 

The petitioner, through Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, had repeatedly urged the Supreme Court to prioritise issues concerning the excessive use of force, alleged assaults on protesters by police personnel without uniforms, alleged assault and outraging of the modesty of women protesters, and the alleged use of prohibited equipment

Accepting these arguments, by way of Order dated 10.09.2026, the Supreme Court has constituted the High-Powered Enquiry Committee (“HPEC“) under its supervision to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the instances of excessive force and violence against the protesters by police and other law enforcement agencies. The material placed before the Hon’ble Court was directed to be placed before the HPEC.