: Three women journalists have accused police officers of sexual harassment during the protest against the Election Commission (EC) at Jantar Mantar on Saturday and their complaints have been forwarded to the crime branch for a detailed probe, the police said on Sunday.
The New Delhi district has received their complaints and the same are transferred to crime branch for fair and impartial enquiry. Deputy commissioner of police (perception management and media cell) Neha Yadav, in an official video statement, urged witnesses to share any video footage related to the alleged sexual harassment with the crime branch. Their complaints were taken, they underwent medical examinations and all the complaints were sent to the crime branch. Three FIRs have been registered at two police stations – Parliament Street and Connaught Place – based on daily diary (DD) entries made by police officials in connection with the protest.
In a post on X, the Delhi Police said: “On October 3, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. “Despite section 163 of the BNSS (prohibitory orders) being in force in the New Delhi area, AISA and other parties held a protest against SIR on October 3. The protesters were informed about Section 163 of the BNSS and directed to leave the spot, and action was taken to detain them when they did not comply. At around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists filed a complaint alleging manhandling by Delhi Police officials and staff during the detention.
I request all of you that if you have any video footage related to this, please share it with the crime branch,” she said in her statement. A senior police officer, who asked not to be identified, said since the allegations were related to sexual crimes against women and were levelled against police officers on duty, an impartial enquiry was required to collect relevant evidence and substantiate the allegations. The cases were registered under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant,” police officers aware of the developments said.
On Saturday evening, several independent journalists and social media influencers staged a protest outside Parliament Street police station, seeking registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against the officers. On Sunday also, people reached there and demanded FIRs.
The number of officer nor their identities have been shared so far.
The three women journalists said officers, deployed on the spot, inappropriately touched them as they were covering the protests.
