Three Women Journalists Allege Sexual Harassment by Delhi Police During Protest

The complaints were received by the New Delhi district police following the protest on October 3

NEW DELHI: Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 3, with the complaints now transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”. The allegations have drawn criticism from journalists and opposition leaders, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) set to protest over the incident. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and party workers staged protests in front of Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of an FIR. The complaints were received by the New Delhi district police following the protest, during which police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Delhi Police said the complaints against police officers were being transferred to the Crime Branch, Kamla Market, which will examine the allegations and record statements of the complainants and other people concerned. The allegations have also triggered wider questions over the treatment of journalists and protesters during the demonstrations. CJP has announced a protest following the allegations, while journalist Dipke hit out at Delhi Police on X, alleging that the force had also picked up people who had no connection with CJP and tried to link them to the organisation to establish a foreign-funding angle.

What the journalists alleged One of the journalists told PTI that an assistant commissioner of police sexually assaulted her while she was covering the protest. She alleged that police personnel were detaining protesters and that no women police personnel were present at the spot. "Police personnel were detaining protesters, and there were no women police personnel present at the spot. I asked ACP Vivek Bhagat of the Delhi Police about the absence of women police personnel, following which he sexually assaulted me and pushed me back," she alleged. The journalist said she and others subsequently went to a police station to lodge an FIR but alleged that no action had been taken so far. Delhi Police, however, said on Sunday that complaints had been received from three women journalists alleging sexual harassment by police personnel. "On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. New Delhi District has received their complaints," Delhi Police informed on X.

Dipke's allegations, Rahul Gandhi's attack Dipke alleged that Delhi Police had also detained people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to establish a foreign-funding connection. "Delhi Police has also picked up a couple of people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to forcibly link them to CJP to establish a foreign-funding angle. A friend just told me that one of them was brutally beaten by Delhi Police and has also lost his job because of the arrest," Dipke wrote on X. The Press Council of India expressed “shock and dismay” over the treatment of journalists and urged Delhi Police to immediately act on the complaint.

Rahul Gandhi also accused Delhi Police of misconduct at Jantar Mantar and questioned Union home minister Amit Shah over the alleged treatment of journalists and protesters. The protests were held against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid demonstrations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police detained several protesters, while at least three FIRs were registered in connection with the mass protest held near Jantar Mantar on October 2.