Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a high-level probe into the reported beating up of two Malayali students by police personnel in New Delhi.
Referring to a letter Shah had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vijayan said in a statement that the attack reflected poorly on the officials involved and if proven guilty, would merit strict action. Vijayan spoke of media reports that the students, ID Ashwant and K Sudhin, who were studying at Zakir Husain Delhi College, were compelled to give their answers in Hindi while being assaulted, which occurred on September 24 near the Red Fort.
The Chief Minister emphasised that students coming from all over India for higher education should be respected for their culture and language. “It is highly objectionable that the officials of a law enforcing agency are said to have indulged in such gross misconduct,” Vijayan wrote. He added that police service is to protect citizens and such acts might encourage others to harass students and migrants.
Wrote to Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji regarding the shocking assault of two Kerala students in New Delhi by police personnel, reportedly forced to speak in Hindi. Urged a high-level probe & stern action. Respect for India’s cultural & linguistic diversity must be…
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) October 2, 2025
The episode has attracted broad attention. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas has stated that the students were attacked by a mob and police officers, beaten with fibre lathis, humiliated, and forced to confess falsely. Their mobile phones were confiscated, and one student’s footwear was stolen. Brittas has termed the incident “a disturbing blend of cultural prejudice and unconstitutional coercion” and an affront to India’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
Brittas has also called for Delhi Police to carry out an unbiased inquiry, hold all the culprits accountable, restore the students’ properties, and introduce cultural sensitivity training for officers.
Two young students from Kerala were brutally assaulted by a mob and the police in Delhi – beaten on false accusations and for not speaking Hindi, ridiculed for their traditional Kerala attire. This ordeal came from the very same people sworn to protect them.
An affront to our… pic.twitter.com/BOsP1goD1o— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) September 26, 2025
The Delhi Police did not respond to media queries for comment so far. The incident has been met with outrage on social media, with people denouncing the attack on students for merely speaking a language other than Hindi.
With Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan having brought the issue to the national stage, attention is now on the Union Home Ministry to ensure a just and detailed probe.
ALSO READ: Dragged, Beaten For Not Speaking Hindi: Kerala Students Allege Brutal Assault Near Delhi’s Red Fort
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
