India
pti-Swastika Sruti
Delhi police said on Sunday that it had got complaints from three female journalists about sexual harassment at a protest in the New Delhi area on October 3.
The cases have been referred to the Crime Branch of Kamla Market for further action, police added.
Delhi Police received sexual harassment complaints from three female journalists during an October 3 protest in New Delhi concerning Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and electoral roll revisions; the cases were sent to the Crime Branch. The protests, involving detentions and other allegations, centered on concerns about voter deletions.
This follows protests against the election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following the allegations of sexual harassment in connection with SIR of electoral rolls.
Three Journalists Submit Complaints
According to the Delhi Police, these complaints have been registered by the New Delhi district police during an emergent law and order situation at the protest.
As per the police post on the microblogging site X, complaints regarding sexual harassment were lodged by three female journalists during the protest on October 3.
These complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch at Kamla Market, which will look into the complaints and take necessary steps.
Details regarding the identity of journalists as well as the nature of complaints lodged by them have not been mentioned in the police post.
Transfer of these complaints to the Crime Branch implies that the matter is now under police investigation.
Protests Over CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The complaints came during demonstrations in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protests have been organised by groups demanding Kumar’s removal over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition groups and activists have raised concerns about alleged voter deletions and the manner in which the revision exercise has been conducted.
The allegations against the Election Commission have not been independently established, while the poll panel has maintained that decisions relating to the SIR were taken through the commission’s established process.
Around 150 Protesters Detained
The protests continued around Jantar Mantar on Saturday, with police and security personnel preventing demonstrators from gathering at the designated protest site.
Around 150 people were detained in and around Jantar Mantar, according to reports.
Those detained included senior advocates Prashant Bhushan and Kapil Sibal, Swaraj India founder Yogendra Yadav, and AISA national president Neha Bora.
AISA also alleged that women protesters, journalists and lawyers were manhandled by male police personnel during the demonstration.
A video circulating on social media reportedly showed a male police officer grabbing Bora from behind while she was being detained. The allegations have not been independently established, and police had not immediately responded to those specific claims.
CJP Raises Separate Allegation
The latest complaints also follow allegations raised by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das.
Das had accused Delhi Police of refusing to register an FIR against ACP Vivek Bhagat over an alleged incident involving an independent woman journalist.
According to Das, he and CJP leader Ratna Singh approached the police and demanded registration of an FIR. He also said journalists and protesters would return to the police station if the complaint was not registered.
The allegations against the police officer remain allegations and are now part of the wider controversy surrounding police conduct during the protests.
CJP Announces October 10 Protest
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced another demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign.
Dipke described the proposed protest as “Jantar Mantar 2.0” and said it would be peaceful.
The announcement followed the CJP’s October 2 demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, where thousands of people reportedly gathered despite police denying permission for the protest.
The CJP has been demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over its allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions and the SIR exercise.
