Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today targeted the Modi government over the 'shocking attack' by police on students protesting against Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide outside Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's office in Delhi, even as the RSS rejected allegations that some of its workers joined the police in thrashing the students.

Rahul insisted the demonstrators were 'brutally' beaten as they were 'protesting against the RSS'.

'Shocking attack on students. Instead of listening to them, now the Modi govt is brutally beating them up for protesting against the RSS!', the Congress leader tweeted.

Rahul's tweet came as the Delhi Police faced criticism following emergence of a video in which its personnel were seen thrashing protesters and dragging female activists by their hair outside the RSS office here during a demonstration against Dalit student Vemula's suicide.

The video of Saturday's incident went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging the police force was being used as the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'private army' under a political dispensation that is at 'war' with students across the country.

The RSS, meanwhile, said no RSS worker was involved in the incident.

"No RSS worker was there at that time. If somebody feels that there was some highhandedness then there is option of inquiry, law. Police must have done whatever they found was appropriate,' incharge of RSS media unit of Delhi Rajiv Tuli said.

Reacting strongly to the assault, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, in a press conference, alleged that the BJP and the RSS workers were involved in thrashing the students along with police.

The Congress called it a 'brutal assault' by police on a group of 'unarmed protesters' and demanded action against guilty policemen.

Delhi police Commissioner BS Bassi said he has directed senior officials to investigate the matter and see if there were any 'indiscretions'.