2 hrs ago
Hyderabad Protest Condemns Alleged Harassment of Women Journalists
People in Hyderabad gathered to protest after women journalists said they were mistreated by police in Delhi.
The journalists had been reporting on a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3.
One journalist accused a police officer of sexual assault, and another said she was touched inappropriately.
The journalists were covering the detention of protesters.
They had been reporting on calls for the chief election commissioner to resign over alleged problems with electoral rolls.
Delhi Police sent three complaints to its Crime Branch for inquiry.
Police said they wanted a fair and impartial inquiry.
They also said they had recorded statements and would examine CCTV footage.
Citizens, students and civil society members protested at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Sunday.
The demonstration condemned alleged sexual harassment of women journalists by Delhi Police during an October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar.
The journalists had been covering a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
One journalist accused Delhi Police officer Vivek Bhagat of sexual assault; another alleged inappropriate touching while recording detentions.
Delhi Police transferred three complaints to its Crime Branch, recorded statements on Sunday and said CCTV footage would be examined.
- Who
- Hyderabad citizens, students and civil society members; three women journalists filed complaints against Delhi Police.
- What
- A demonstration condemned alleged harassment of women journalists and police action against women protesters.
- Where
- The demonstration was at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road in Hyderabad; the alleged incidents occurred at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- When
- The Hyderabad demonstration took place on Sunday; the alleged incidents occurred during the October 3 protest.
- Why
- The gathering protested allegations that women journalists were sexually harassed while covering a demonstration over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revision.
Journalists’ allegations
Police response
Conduct during protest coverage
Journalists’ allegations
One journalist accused Delhi Police officer Vivek Bhagat of sexually assaulting her; another alleged inappropriate touching while she recorded the detention of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
Police response
Delhi Police said the complaints were sent to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry; it said statements had been recorded and CCTV footage would be examined.
Police action against women protesters
Journalists’ allegations
The Hyderabad demonstrators condemned police action against women protesters during the Jantar Mantar protest.
Police response
The article reports no specific police response to this criticism.
Key facts
- Protest location
- People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad
- Alleged incident
- During the October 3 Jantar Mantar protest
- Complaints
- Three journalists filed complaints
- Inquiry
- Complaints were transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch
- Police response
- Statements were recorded on Sunday; CCTV footage would be examined
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged SIR electoral-roll irregularities
Sources
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