Journalists must be allowed to work freely: Press Club slams Delhi Police

The Press Club of India has condemned the alleged mistreatment of journalists by Delhi Police during protests in Delhi. The row has intensified scrutiny of police conduct, press freedom and the handling of sexual harassment complaints.

In Short

• Three women reporters alleged sexual harassment while covering Saturday's protest in Delhi
• Police transferred the complaints to Crime Branch for a fair enquiry
• Opposition groups are protesting alleged voter deletions in electoral roll revision

The Press Club of India on Sunday condemned the Delhi Police's alleged treatment of journalists covering protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded immediate action on complaints of sexual harassment against police personnel.

The statement came a day after three women journalists alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while covering the protest on Saturday.

Delhi Police said it has received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for a "fair and impartial enquiry."

The allegations have come during three straight days of protests in the national capital, where opposition parties, student organisations and civil society groups have been demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll and mass deletion of voters.

In its statement, the Press Club said it was "shocked and dismayed at the Delhi Police's actions against and treatment of journalists during the protests at Jantar Mantar against the chief election commissioner on Friday and Saturday".

It said a woman journalist has alleged that she was "molested and groped by an ACP" and spent hours at Parliament Street police station on Saturday night trying to get an FIR registered.

The Press Club said journalists from independent organisations and news portals complained that, despite carrying press cards and identifying themselves as mediapersons, they were subjected to aggressive police action, with some even detained along with protesters.

"Behaviour of this kind cannot be normalised in a democracy. Journalists must be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues," it said.

It also demanded that Delhi Police act on the woman journalist's complaint and ensure that mediapersons can do their work without facing aggression or threats.

On Friday, more than 700 protesters, including Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj and members of student and youth organisations, were detained after they tried to reach Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders. Internet services were suspended in parts of central Delhi, and entry and exit at 12 metro stations were temporarily shut as part of security arrangements.

The protesters returned to Jantar Mantar on Saturday, when around 150 people, including AISA national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, were detained amid heavy police deployment.

The protests continued on Sunday, with student groups calling for a citizens' march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar and police stepping up security in central Delhi.

The Press Club also condemned the suspension of internet services in and around Jantar Mantar on Friday, saying it severely restricted the flow of information and hindered journalists covering the protests.

"Such arbitrary internet shutdowns should have no place in a democracy," it said. Opposition parties and other groups have alleged that the revision exercise led to large-scale deletion of eligible voters, while the Election Commission has rejected any wrongdoing and said the electoral roll revision is being carried out according to established procedures.

- Ends