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Delhi Protests Over Election Chief, Alleged Police Assaults
People in Delhi held protests on Sunday.
They wanted the chief election commissioner to resign and called for action over allegations that police officers sexually assaulted women journalists.
The protesters tried to reach Jantar Mantar, but police barricades stopped them.
Student leader Neha Bora was taken away by police and later released in Narela.
Protesters also helped some people leave a police bus.
One journalist said police would not register her complaint.
Delhi Police said the complaints had been sent to the Crime Branch for an inquiry.
Another protest was planned by opposition parties for Wednesday.
Hundreds joined protests in Delhi calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and justice for women journalists who alleged sexual assault by police officers.
Police stopped marchers from reaching Jantar Mantar for the third consecutive day.
Left student leader Neha Bora was detained after a confrontation at police barricades and later released in Narela.
A journalist who alleged assault said police refused to register her FIR; Delhi Police said the complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry.
The Youth Congress also held a torchlight procession, while Delhi INDIA bloc parties announced a joint protest for Wednesday.
- Who
- Left student groups, the Youth Congress, journalists, AAP representatives and other protesters; Delhi Police detained Neha Bora.
- What
- Protests called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and justice for women journalists alleging sexual assault by police officers.
- Where
- Delhi, including routes toward Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street police station.
- When
- Sunday; a joint INDIA bloc protest was planned for Wednesday.
- Why
- Protesters sought action over the journalists’ allegations and opposed Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure as chief election commissioner.
Protesters’ allegations
Police response
Handling of Neha Bora
Protesters’ allegations
The All India Students’ Association accused police of kidnapping Bora and taking her away in a private vehicle without a policewoman inside.
Police response
The article reports that police detained Bora and later released her, but does not provide a specific police response to the accusation about how she was transported.
Registration of journalists’ complaints
Protesters’ allegations
The journalist and her supporters said police refused to register an FIR, arguing that it should be registered before an investigation.
Police response
Delhi Police said it had received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry.
Access to Jantar Mantar
Protesters’ allegations
Protesters said they had a right to return to the designated protest site and criticized the barricades and detentions.
Police response
Police stopped the marchers at barricades before they reached Jantar Mantar; the article does not state the police’s explanation for restricting access.
Key facts
- Main protest demands
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and justice for women journalists alleging sexual assault by police.
- Protest route
- A march left Andhra Bhavan around 3:30 p.m. and headed toward Jantar Mantar.
- Detained student leader
- Neha Bora was later released in Narela, on Delhi’s northern outskirts.
- Police response
- Delhi Police said the complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry.
- Additional procession
- The Youth Congress torchlight procession began around 6:30 p.m. on Raisina Road and was stopped short of Jantar Mantar.
- Planned protest
- Delhi units of several INDIA bloc parties planned a joint protest outside the Delhi election commission office on Wednesday.
Quotes
Uday Bhanu Chib
Youth Congress president
“And when we are repeatedly detained and beaten for protesting at a designated protest site, we also have the right to keep returning to that public place and assert our claim to it.”
telegraphindia.com
“Jantar Mantar is no one’s fiefdom! Throw up barricades, deploy thousands of police personnel, block the roads… but you won’t be able to silence the voice of the youth.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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