Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 6: Days after a woman journalist alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, the Delhi Police officer was promoted to the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl DCP).

According to an order issued on Monday, 12 DANIPS officers, including Bhagat, were promoted to the post of Addl DCP. Bhagat, a 2018-batch DANIPS officer, is currently posted as ACP of Connaught Place.

On Saturday, a woman journalist alleged that Bhagat sexually assaulted her after she questioned him about the absence of women police personnel during a protest. She alleged that the officer pushed her back and sexually assaulted her.

The allegation came amid protests by journalists outside Parliament Street Police Station on Sunday, with demonstrators demanding registration of an FIR over complaints filed by three women journalists against Delhi Police personnel.

The Delhi Police said it had received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for a "fair and impartial inquiry."

According to the police, the complaints were made during a protest in the New Delhi area on October 3 while law-and-order arrangements were being handled. The complaints were subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.

In a separate clarification issued on Monday, the Delhi Police rejected allegations circulating on social media that female protesters had been physically assaulted.

The police said female protesters were handled by women personnel and treated with dignity, while detentions and releases were carried out in accordance with law and prescribed procedures.

Members of the Congress, AAP and CJP joined the journalists' protest after the women alleged that they had been sexually harassed by police personnel while protesters were being detained at Jantar Mantar during an agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The women also alleged that no female police personnel were present at the spot.

The Press Club of India said it was "shocked and dismayed" by the Delhi Police's actions and treatment of journalists during protests at Jantar Mantar against the Chief Election Commissioner.

The press body said such behaviour "cannot be normalised in a democracy" and stressed that journalists must be allowed to work freely and document public protests without fear.

The allegations against Bhagat remain subject to the Crime Branch inquiry.