Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 4: Three women journalists have filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct and manhandling while they were detained during a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, police said.
The Delhi Police on Sunday said the complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial” inquiry.
Protests have been taking place at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a post on X, Delhi Police said that on October 3, during the protest in the New Delhi area, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers.
“The New Delhi District has received their complaints and the same are transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry,” the police said.
Speaking to reporters, DCP Neha Yadav said Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been imposed in the New Delhi area, but AISA and other organisations held a protest on October 3 against the SIR.
“The protesters were informed about the prohibitory orders and warned to leave the spot, and when they did not comply, they were detained,” she said.
Yadav said that at around 6 p.m., three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of being manhandled by Delhi Police officers and personnel during their detention.
“Their complaints were accepted, and they were medically examined,” she said, reiterating that all three complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch.
The senior police officer also appealed to anyone having video footage of the alleged incident to share it with the Crime Branch.
Meanwhile, CPI-M, AAP leaders and representatives of other organisations staged a protest outside the Parliament Street Police Station on Sunday over the allegations made by the journalists.
Speaking to reporters, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat questioned why an FIR had not been registered.
“Why has the FIR not been lodged yet?” she asked.
Referring to the police officer against whom the journalists have made allegations, Karat said one of the complainants was giving her statement and claimed that video footage showed the ACP running away.
“She (one of the complainants) is giving her statement... it is clear in the video that the ACP is running away. Thieves and robbers run away; a police officer does not run away from his uniform. Why was he running away? Because he is guilty... he is at fault. He is unable to reply because this girl is speaking the truth and he is lying,” she said.
Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj said police stations and hospitals were expected to remain open round the clock.
“Just imagine, someone came to file a complaint and seek accountability from them, and they shut down the police station itself. Moreover, they have also closed all the routes leading to the police station,” he said.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar also questioned the delay in registering an FIR based on the journalists’ complaints.
“Where has the complaint been taken? No FIR has been registered yet. Registering an FIR is a right, and even the court says that... Will every person have to launch a protest to get justice? What is the Delhi Police doing?” he asked.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das was also present at the protest site.