Delhi Police shifts the probe away from the local district to ensure impartiality, as journalists and opposition leaders push for FIRs
New Delhi: Three women journalists have accused Delhi Police personnel of sexually harassing them while they were covering the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar against the Election Commission. Their complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
The journalists allege that officers deployed at the site touched them inappropriately during the detention of protesters. Police have not yet said how many officers are accused or who they are.
DCP Neha Yadav said the AISA-led demonstration against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was held despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS. Protesters who refused to disperse were detained. Around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of manhandling. Yadav said they underwent medical examinations, and she appealed to anyone with video footage to share it with the Crime Branch.
A senior officer explained the decision to move the case. Because personnel from Parliament Street police station and the New Delhi district were on duty at the protest, he said, letting them investigate their own colleagues would not have been fair.
Independent journalists and social media influencers protested outside Parliament Street police station over the weekend, demanding FIRs against the officers. Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi criticised the police for failing to register cases.
At least 1,000 protesters were detained. Three FIRs under BNS Section 223 have been filed against demonstrators for disobeying official orders.
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