New Delhi: Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment and manhandling by Delhi Police personnel while covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 3. Delhi Police have transferred their complaints to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Neha Yadav said on Sunday that the three women, who identified themselves as journalists, lodged complaints alleging manhandling by police officers and personnel during their detention.

“Their complaint has been registered, medical examinations have been conducted, and the matter has been referred to the Crime Branch,” Yadav said. She also appealed to anyone possessing relevant footage to share it with the Crime Branch.

The Crime Branch will examine the allegations and record the statements of the complainants, police personnel and other people concerned.

One of the journalists had told PTI that an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) sexually assaulted her during the protest. She alleged that protesters were being detained and there were no women police personnel at the spot.

According to her complaint, she questioned ACP Vivek Bhagat about the absence of women officers, following which he allegedly sexually assaulted her and pushed her back. Bhagat could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages. A source said his name was mentioned in the complaint submitted by the journalists.

The women had reportedly gone to a police station after the alleged incidents to seek registration of an FIR and had claimed that no immediate action was taken.
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Press Council expresses concern

The Press Council of India has expressed “shock and dismay” over the alleged treatment of journalists covering the protest and urged Delhi Police to act on the complaints.

It said journalists should be allowed to work freely and document protests without facing aggression or threats.

Congress demands FIR, action

The allegations have also triggered a political response from the Congress.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said three women journalists had accused police personnel of sexual harassment while reporting from the Jantar Mantar protest. She questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the allegations and asked why no FIR had been registered.

Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also demanded an FIR and action against the police personnel allegedly involved.
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AISA protest continues for third day

Meanwhile, AISA activists on Sunday staged a fresh protest in Delhi, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The mobilisation began from Andhra Bhawan Circle on Ashoka Road, with protesters marching towards Jantar Mantar amid heavy police deployment and barricading.

There was a brief confrontation as police attempted to stop the protesters from crossing the barricades. Purported visuals from the protest showed AISA national president Neha Bora attempting to climb over a barricade while police personnel tried to stop her.

The latest protest came a day after more than 150 protesters were detained in Delhi. More than 500 protesters, including student activists and political leaders, had also been detained during demonstrations in central Delhi on Friday.

Police said protesters had been warned to vacate the area after Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was imposed, but they refused to comply and were subsequently detained.

The protests are linked to the wider agitation over the Election Commission's functioning, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of large-scale voter deletions.

The demonstrations also followed an Indian Express report claiming that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months regarding decisions related to electoral rolls, voter registration and the Commission's technology systems.

The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that these objections amounted to institutional dissent, saying that queries, inputs and suggestions during the draft stage are part of its normal decision-making process. It has also maintained that decisions on the SIR exercise were taken unanimously.

(With agency inputs)