Four journalists’ organisations have condemned the detention and alleged harassment of reporters covering the protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding a public apology from Delhi Police and the immediate return of seized phones and reporting equipment.
The Press Club of India (PCI), Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists issued a joint statement on Saturday, alleging that journalists were detained despite displaying their press identity cards.
According to the statement, reporters documenting the police crackdown were forced into buses and taken to detention centres. Some also had their mobile phones and reporting equipment confiscated.
The detained journalists included reporters from The Quint, The Wire, Scroll, Reporter TV, Navbharat Times and Newslaundry. Senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta was also among those detained, according to reports by news agency PTI.
“The reporters said they were detained while filming detentions, despite prominently displaying their press cards,” the organisations said, calling for the immediate release of all journalists in custody.
Press bodies call police action an attack on press freedom
The four organisations demanded a public apology from Delhi Police, arguing that detaining reporters while they were documenting events raised serious concerns about press freedom and the ability of journalists to report on public demonstrations.
They also sought the return of all seized phones and equipment, stressing that journalists must be allowed to cover protests without intimidation or obstruction.
“Preventing journalists from doing their job, detaining them without reason, and creating a fortress-like situation in the capital with 22,000 police and paramilitary, closed metro stations and unprecedented internet shutdowns, to stop peaceful questioning of institutions is reminiscent of a fascist state,” the statement said.
The organisations’ condemnation came amid heightened security across the national capital ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Opposition protests demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The CJP announced that it would resume its demonstration at Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday, following the police crackdown on Saturday.
Thousands detained as Delhi turns into a security fortress
Delhi witnessed an extensive security operation on Saturday as authorities moved to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. Around 41,000 security personnel were deployed across the capital, according to the report, while approximately 7,000 people were detained during the crackdown.
Four former chief ministers and CJP leaders were among those detained, alongside students, lawyers, politicians and activists. Police prevented demonstrators from reaching the designated protest venue, although sporadic gatherings continued at different locations across the city.
The large-scale operation disrupted movement in parts of the capital, with metro stations closed and internet restrictions reported. The security arrangements drew criticism from journalists’ organisations, which said the restrictions had also impeded media coverage of the demonstrations.
Journalists covering the police action were reportedly taken to detention locations, including Chhatrasal Stadium and Chanakyapuri police station.
The CJP and Opposition groups were protesting against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration had been planned amid growing political opposition to the SIR exercise.
Right-wing groups accused of threatening and assaulting protesters
The crackdown was accompanied by incidents of alleged intimidation and violence involving men identified as members of right-wing organisations. Protesters and journalists were threatened and assaulted in Connaught Place and near the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Civic Centre, according to the report.
Near Palika Bazaar at around 2.30 pm on Saturday, a group of more than 30 men claiming to belong to the Bajrang Dal allegedly shouted slogans and threatened journalists covering the protest.
“You all are showing fake news for CJP. We will protect Delhi Police since they can't use arms against you,” one of the men was quoted as saying.
Police chased the group away and detained some of its members around half an hour later.
Several men were also seen allegedly beating protesters in front of police personnel. Some of these incidents occurred in Connaught Place in the presence of Hindustan Times reporters.
A separate confrontation near the MCD Civic Centre turned violent when men identified as members of the Hindustan Raksha Dal allegedly dragged, assaulted and threatened women and men on the street.
The incidents added to concerns over the safety of protesters and journalists covering the demonstrations, with press bodies demanding accountability for the alleged harassment and detention of media personnel.
As the CJP prepared to resume its protest on Sunday, the demand for the release of detained journalists, the return of their equipment and an apology from Delhi Police remained central to the growing dispute over the handling of the demonstrations.