Students accuse police of abusing power at universal suffrage protest
Complaint made to watchdog after woman says she was grabbed from behind by a male officer
Student activists have lodged a complaint to the police watchdog, accusing officers of abusing their power at a recent protest.
A woman who took part in the demonstration said she was grabbed from behind by a male officer, who touched her breasts in the process while a woman officer stood nearby.
The activists have been asking police to make public the guidelines covering the circumstances in which male officers can be sent to handle women protesters.
About 10 activists submitted a petition to the civilian-run Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), led by Federation of Students secretary general Eddie Chan Shu-fai.
"We are students and we have no weapons," Chan said. "There is no reason for the police to use force. We fear it may be a tactic by the police to scare off people so no one will dare to stage protests in the future."
About two dozen students demonstrated at a ceremony attended by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at the Caritas Institute of Higher Education in Tseung Kwan O earlier this month.