Three women journalists allege sexual harassment by police at Jantar Mantar; Crime Branch to probe
Delhi Police have handed complaints by three women journalists, over a 3 October protest against the Chief Election Commissioner, to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry.
New Delhi: Three women journalists have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Delhi Police during a protest at Jantar Mantar on 3 October against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police have handed the complaints to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry.
Police said a police deployment had been put in place at the site to maintain law and order during the protest. According to police, the complaints relate to the same period.
The complaints of the three women journalists had reached the New Delhi district police. The case was then handed to the Crime Branch so that the inquiry could be conducted impartially. The Crime Branch will record the statements of the complainant journalists and others connected with the case. It will then examine the evidence and circumstances relating to the allegations.
One of the women journalists has alleged that while she was covering the protest, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) sexually misbehaved with her. The journalist claims that as police were detaining protesters, she asked ACP Vivek Bhagat why no woman police personnel were present at the spot. She alleges that she was then mistreated and pushed back. The inquiry into these allegations is under way and they have not been separately verified.
The same journalist also said that she and other journalists went to the police station to file a complaint. Journalists and protesters later demanded action outside the police station.
The Press Council of India has also expressed concern over the incident. The council said such treatment of journalists covering protests should not become commonplace in a democracy. It has appealed to Delhi Police to act immediately so that journalists can work without fear, and face no pressure or aggressive behaviour while covering protests.
The matter has brought the safety of journalists at Jantar Mantar and police action there into discussion. All eyes are now on what the Crime Branch inquiry finds on these complaints.
