A 100‑member group of Harvard alumni issued a statement on Oct 12 condemning Delhi police brutality following the October 10 crackdown on the Jantar Mantar protest.
The letter, released two days after thousands of demonstrators were detained, calls on the government and law‑enforcement agencies to cease violations of constitutional rights and to hold those responsible accountable.
A second letter, signed by 44 Harvard affiliates and issued on Oct 14, warned against a campaign that it said was attacking India’s constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission, Supreme Court, and Parliament.
Both letters criticize the use of terms such as "siege" to describe the situation, arguing that such rhetoric undermines public trust in democratic institutions.
The Delhi Police had imposed a practical lockdown on Oct 10, curbing metro services and internet access in parts of the capital, and had rounded up journalists and lawyers attempting to join the protest.
The letters have been met with calls from opposition groups for an investigation into police conduct, and Delhi authorities are expected to issue a response by the end of the week.