The detention and harassment of multiple journalists covering the ongoing Delhi protests has been condemned by four journalists ‘ organisations, including the Press Club of India (PCI) and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC).
Press bodies demand apology from Delhi Police
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Opposition are protesting in the national capital against the alleged electoral irregularities, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The organisations have demanded a public apology from the Delhi Police. Four former chief ministers and the leaders of the CJP, were among those detained as police cracked down on students, lawyers and politicians, successfully refusing passage to Jantar Mantar. Yet, sporadic protests bubbled up at different points of the city throughout the day. “You all are showing fake news for CJP. We will protect Delhi Police since they can’t use arms against you,” one of them shouted. Police chased the men away and detained some of them half an hour later. Many of the men were seen beating protesters in front of police personnel, including instances at Connaught Place that unfolded in front of HT reporters.
CJP has vowed to resume the protests at Jantar Mantar at 10 on Sunday after a massive police crackdown a day earlier, on Saturday. Near Palika Bazaar at 2.30pm, a group of more than 30 men who said they were from the Bajrang Dal shouted slogans and threatened journalists.
The journalists covering the police crackdown were forced into buses and transported to detention centres by the Delhi Police, the organisations said. “Preventing journalists from doing their job, detaining them without reason, and creating a fortress-like situation in the capital with 22,000 police and paramilitary, closed metro stations and unprecedented internet shutdowns, to stop peaceful questioning of institutions is reminiscent of a fascist state,” the organisations said.
