Three women journalists have complained of sexual harassment by Delhi Police personnel during Saturday’s (October 3) protest at Jantar Mantar. The New Delhi district police have handed the complaints to the Crime Branch for an enquiry, police said on Sunday (October 4).
The complaints concern alleged incidents involving police personnel who were deployed at the protest to maintain law and order. The Crime Branch will record statements from the three journalists and others connected to the complaints, an officer said.
Crime Branch to examine harassment complaints
“On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers,” stated the Delhi Police in a post on X.
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“New Delhi District has received their complaints and the same are transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry,” it added.
Rahul questions police response
The allegations have also drawn a response from Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. On Saturday (October 3), he asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to answer over the alleged conduct of Delhi Police personnel during the protest.
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Rahul said that the Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs and questioned why an FIR had not been registered.
“A female journalist has accused a police officer of misconduct at Jantar Mantar. For hours, hundreds of journalists have been sitting there with just one demand: that an FIR be registered. Isn’t that the police’s basic duty? They haven’t even done that,” Rahul said in a post on X.
Rahul alleges force against women protesters
“There are allegations of misconduct with women protesters. Cameras were snatched, journalists were dragged. And this isn’t the first time — we’ve seen video evidence of police officers engaging in disgusting misconduct with women earlier,” he added.
Rahul said that women and students across Delhi were holding a Satyagraha over concerns about their safety. He alleged that police personnel were using force against them.
“And a government that fears registering even one woman’s complaint — what exactly is it protecting? Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this,” stated Rahul.
(With agency inputs)