Outrage Erupts as Journalists Demand Justice for Alleged Police Harassment

Protests Erupt Over Allegations of Police Misconduct

New Delhi: On Monday, a group of demonstrators assembled outside the Parliament Street police station, urging the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) and an investigation into claims of sexual harassment involving three female journalists by police officers during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3.

During the demonstration, several individuals were taken into custody as they insisted on reviewing CCTV footage related to the alleged incident and demanded appropriate action on their complaints.

One protester recounted that they had initially approached the police station on the day of the incident to request the CCTV footage but were told to return after 24 hours.

Upon their return, they again sought the footage, but it was not provided. They expressed frustration that no FIR was filed, nor were they given any updates on the situation. Instead, they faced detention, as reported to a media outlet.

Another protester emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the CCTV footage and noted that a similar complaint had been lodged in July against the same police officer accused of harassment.

She stated, "This is our demand because there was already a case against the officer in July," highlighting the lack of action on the previous complaint and the seriousness of the current allegations.

The protests were sparked by accusations from three women journalists who alleged sexual harassment by police during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar.

In response, the New Delhi district police have referred the complaints to the Crime Branch for a comprehensive and unbiased investigation, according to a police spokesperson.

One of the journalists involved claimed that an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) assaulted her when she inquired about the absence of female officers at the protest.