New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to provide two months of protection to Amarkant Singh Chouhan, a Bhind-based journalist who alleged life threats from local police officials in Madhya Pradesh.

The protection was ordered after Chouhan claimed he was assaulted by the Bhind superintendent of police, Asit Yadav, in connection with his reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal region.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued the order, allowing Chouhan to stay safely in Delhi while also directing that his contact details be shared with the local Station House Officer and beat officer. The court said the journalist can approach the concerned high court in Madhya Pradesh for further legal remedies.

The petition, filed through Chouhan’s counsel, stated that he fled to Delhi on May 19 due to continuous harassment by the Bhind police, and cited physical assault in the SP’s office on May 1. The plea described how several journalists, including Chouhan and Shashikant Goyal, were allegedly stripped to their undergarments and beaten.

The petition also noted that the journalists were targeted after reporting on illegal sand mining operations allegedly conducted with police support. It sought protection not only for Chouhan, 55, but also for his family, citing threats to their life and liberty.

Chouhan is the Bhind Bureau Chief of the Swaraj Express news channel. His legal plea stressed the need to safeguard his rights under Article 21 (right to life) and Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) of the Indian Constitution.

Earlier, complaints were submitted to the Bhind district collector by Chouhan, Goyal, and Pritam Singh Rajawat—another journalist—accusing the SP of manhandling them inside his office. The officer has denied the allegations.

The Delhi Police opposed the plea during the hearing, but the court granted interim protection, keeping in view the journalist's urgent need for safety.
(With PTI inputs)