Opposition targets Centre as women journalists accuse Delhi Police officers of sexual harassment

The political confrontation over protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar escalated further on Sunday as the Opposition targeted the Centre and Delhi Police after three women journalists accused police personnel of sexual harassment while covering demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police said the complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”, while Opposition leaders questioned why an FIR had not been registered on the journalists’ allegations.

The controversy emerged from Saturday’s protest demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Nearly 160 people were detained on Saturday, a day after more than 1,000 people were detained during demonstrations in the Capital, according to police accounts reported by Hindustan Times.

Three journalists complain

The three women journalists alleged that they faced sexual harassment by police personnel while reporting on the protest on October 3. One of them alleged that an assistant commissioner of police sexually assaulted her after she questioned him about the absence of women police personnel while protesters were being detained. The allegation has not been independently established and is now subject to an inquiry.

Delhi Police confirmed receiving complaints from three women journalists and said the New Delhi district police had transferred them to the Crime Branch at Kamla Market. The Crime Branch will examine the allegations and record statements of the complainants and others concerned as part of the inquiry.

The Press Council of India also expressed “shock and dismay” over the treatment of journalists covering the demonstration and called upon Delhi Police to act on the complaints.

Rahul questions Shah

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the allegations, pointing out that Delhi Police functions under the Union Home Ministry. He said a woman journalist had accused a police officer of misconduct and questioned why an FIR had not been registered despite journalists pressing for action.

Rahul also linked the allegations to the wider police action at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds of demonstrators have been detained during successive protests. His criticism came as Opposition parties and civil society groups intensified their attack on the handling of demonstrations demanding the CEC’s resignation.

Priyanka attacks police response

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, saying women journalists had accused police personnel of sexual harassment while doing their jobs. She alleged that despite journalists protesting over the incident, neither an FIR nor concrete action had followed.

“The very police whose job it is to provide security is making women feel threatened,” Priyanka said. She also referred to allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women participating in the protests and asked Modi and Shah to take cognisance of the matter.

AAP takes protest to police station

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and party workers staged a demonstration outside Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of an FIR over the journalists’ allegations. The party questioned why the matter was being dealt with through an inquiry rather than an FIR.

The Opposition’s criticism has therefore widened the controversy beyond the original dispute over SIR and the demand for Kumar’s resignation. Police conduct during the protests, the detention of demonstrators and now the allegations made by women journalists have emerged as separate points of confrontation.

Dipke levels fresh allegations

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has announced another Jantar Mantar protest for October 10 if Kumar does not resign, also levelled fresh allegations against Delhi Police. Dipke claimed police had picked up people who had no connection with the CJP and attempted to link them to the organisation to establish a foreign-funding angle.

He further alleged that one such person had been badly beaten in police custody and subsequently lost his job because of the arrest. These are allegations made by Dipke and have not been independently established; no finding supporting them has been reported so far.

The development adds another dimension to Dipke’s confrontation with the authorities. Following the large CJP demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, he called on supporters from across India to march to Delhi on October 10, saying that if police stopped them from reaching Jantar Mantar, wherever they were stopped would become their protest venue.

Security tightened further

The confrontation is set to continue on Sunday, with two more marches announced against the CEC — a Citizens’ March from India Gate to Jantar Mantar at 3 pm and an Indian Youth Congress march along the same route at 5 pm. Delhi Police said permission had not been granted for the marches.

Around 5,000 police personnel, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces, have been deployed. Multi-layered barricades have been erected on routes leading towards Jantar Mantar, drones are being used for surveillance and personnel have been equipped with anti-riot gear.

Police have also registered three FIRs against protesters in connection with the demonstrations around Jantar Mantar. Separately, complaints alleging sexual harassment by police personnel have been sent to the Crime Branch, making the conduct of both protesters and police subject to separate proceedings.

Protests enter third day

The latest developments mean the agitation over the Election Commission has now entered a third consecutive day in Delhi. What began as protests over SIR and demands for Kumar’s resignation has expanded into a larger political confrontation over policing, the right to protest and the treatment of journalists covering demonstrations.

With fresh marches planned, thousands of security personnel deployed and the Crime Branch now examining allegations made by three women journalists, pressure on Delhi Police and the Union Home Ministry has intensified. The journalists’ allegations remain under inquiry, while Opposition parties are demanding that the police move beyond an internal examination and register a formal case.