Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Journalists Detained and Obstructed While Covering Delhi Protests
Journalists went to report on protests in Delhi.
Some said police stopped them from filming and recording what was happening.
A few journalists said they were pushed around or taken away in police buses.
One journalist alleged that security personnel blocked cameras and made noise near microphones.
A newspaper said three of its journalists were detained and later released far from where they were stopped.
The Supreme Court had said journalists and lawyers should be allowed to do their jobs.
The reports also said police were present at the Press Club of India, where a press conference was being held.
Journalists in Delhi said police stopped them from filming protests and recording demonstrators’ detentions.
Some journalists were allegedly manhandled, temporarily detained and taken away from protest sites.
BBC journalist Jugal Purohit alleged RAF personnel blocked cameras and disrupted audio recordings with whistles.
Three journalists from a Hindi-language national newspaper were detained at Connaught Place and released at Chhatrasal Stadium, about 12 km away.
The Supreme Court had directed authorities not to prevent journalists and lawyers from performing their professional duties.
- Who
- Journalists covering the CJP protests, Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel.
- What
- Journalists alleged they were obstructed, manhandled and temporarily detained while reporting.
- When
- Sunday, during the second day of protests.
- Where
- Delhi, including Connaught Place and the Press Club of India; reports of detentions also came from Mumbai.
- Why
- The journalists were covering protests; the articles do not establish why police obstructed or detained them.
Journalists and press-freedom advocates
Police and authorities
Access to report
Journalists and press-freedom advocates
Journalists said police obstructed filming and recording, despite press identification and the Supreme Court's direction.
Police and authorities
The articles provide no direct police response or explanation for the reported actions.
Detentions during protests
Journalists and press-freedom advocates
Journalists and CPJ reported temporary detentions, including the removal of three newspaper journalists from Connaught Place.
Police and authorities
The articles do not include an official account of the detentions or the reasons for them.
- Protest coverage
- The incidents were reported during the second day of CJP protests.
- Supreme Court direction
- Authorities were directed to ensure journalists and lawyers could perform their professional duties.
- Reported detentions
- Three journalists from a Hindi-language national newspaper were detained at Connaught Place.
- Release location
- The three journalists were released at Chhatrasal Stadium, about 12 km from Connaught Place.
- Reported obstruction
- Journalists said cameras were blocked and filming and audio recording were disrupted.
- Press Club of India
- Police personnel entered the premises during a press conference involving CJP members and student leaders.
- CPJ statement
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said journalists had been temporarily detained by Delhi Police while covering the protests.