New Delhi: Allegations that police personnel sexually harassed three women journalists covering a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday have triggered a major controversy in the national capital. Following widespread criticism over the incident, Delhi Police transferred the complaints to the Crime Branch for an impartial investigation.
The incident occurred during protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. One of the women journalists alleged that an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) behaved inappropriately and sexually harassed her. She said that while she was filming police action on her phone, the officer inappropriately touched her and pushed her aside. She further alleged that when she went to the police station to file a complaint afterward, officers initially refused to register the case.
The Press Council of India (PCI) expressed strong shock and concern over the incident, stating in a release that such conduct cannot be treated as routine in a democracy and that journalists must be able to perform their duties freely without fear. The Council said incidents of this nature occurring at the heart of the national capital were detrimental to press freedom, and demanded that Delhi Police take immediate action on the journalist’s complaint and ensure an environment in which media personnel can work without intimidation.
Rahul Gandhi’s Sharp Reaction
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reacted sharply to the incident, noting that Delhi Police falls under the Union Home Ministry and demanding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah respond to the matter. Writing on X, he said a woman journalist had levelled allegations against a police officer, and hundreds of journalists had sat in protest for hours demanding an FIR be registered, calling it shameful that even an FIR had not been filed.
“What is a government protecting when it is afraid to even register a woman’s complaint? Mr Amit Shah, where are you? You must answer for this,” Gandhi said.