Jaipur — A sit-in by Congress leaders and workers outside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate entered its second day on Tuesday, with protesters demanding registration of a Zero FIR over the alleged assault on NSUI leader Ritu Barala by Delhi Police personnel during a demonstration in the national capital.
Party stages overnight dharna, traffic disrupted
The protest, which began on Monday and continued through the night, saw several senior Congress figures — including Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra — sleeping in the corridor of the commissionerate, according to police statements. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, women MLAs and a large number of party workers joined the demonstration outside the premises on Tuesday, blockading the area and leading to traffic disruption on roads near the commissionerate.
- Protesters raised slogans and demanded that Jaipur Police register a Zero FIR in the alleged assault case.
- Police kept the main gate of the commissionerate closed, set up barricades and deployed additional personnel to prevent entry.
- Congress leaders staged a dharna inside the commissionerate after spending Monday night there, police said.
Police cite legal constraints, point to Delhi complaint
Jaipur Police rejected the demand for a Zero FIR, saying Barala had already lodged a complaint at the Connaught Place police station in Delhi on October 13, where the matter was then under investigation. Citing legal norms, city police maintained that registering another FIR on the same facts in Rajasthan would not be legally permissible, and said they had contacted Delhi Police to confirm the earlier complaint.
“Registering another FIR on the same facts in Rajasthan would not be legally permissible,” said Jaipur Police, according to the report.
Police records show that Barala first approached the Moti Dungri police station in Jaipur on Monday with a complaint alleging that Delhi Police women constables Chanchal Yadav, Sonika and Jyoti had allegedly assaulted her during a protest in Delhi on October 13. After contacting Delhi Police, Jaipur authorities were informed that Barala had already submitted a complaint at Connaught Place on the same date and the case was being examined by Delhi Police, the Jaipur statement added.
Political fallout and accusations
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the state government over Jaipur Police's refusal to register a Zero FIR, accusing the administration of denying justice because of Barala's association with the Congress. In a social media post cited in reports, Gehlot asked whether the BJP government in Rajasthan had become "completely incompetent", highlighting the political polarisation surrounding the incident.
The protest has placed the Jaipur Police Commissionerate at the centre of a tense confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties in the state. Jaipur city commuters faced intermittent disruption as the sit-in continued; police maintained the main gate closed and prevented demonstrators from entering the building.
| Event | Date (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Alleged assault on Ritu Barala in Delhi | October 13 |
| Complaint lodged at Connaught Place police station (Delhi) | October 13 |
| Congress protest and overnight dharna at Jaipur Commissionerate | October 19-20 |
The Jaipur Police statement emphasises that duplicate FIRs on identical facts across jurisdictions are not ordinarily permissible, and that the matter is being examined by Delhi Police where the initial complaint was filed. The Congress, meanwhile, has continued to press for local registration of the case, arguing for immediate action and visibility in Rajasthan.
As the situation stands, further developments will depend on communication between Jaipur and Delhi police authorities, any fresh legal steps the complainant elects to pursue, and the political decisions of Congress leaders who have kept their demand for a Zero FIR at the forefront of the protest.
