Politics · India · 1 day ago
Journalist groups condemn reporters’ detention at Delhi protest
Journalists were detained while covering a protest in Delhi on October 10 calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The Press Club of India and three other journalists’ organisations said reporters were taken away despite showing press identification cards.
They alleged that some journalists’ phones and reporting equipment were seized.
The groups also objected to reports that Delhi Police required journalists to have Press Information Bureau accreditation to cover the protest.
They said many digital and independent journalists do not have those cards and that accreditation should not decide who can report.
The organisations have called for an inquiry into the detentions, the return of equipment, a public apology and assurances that reporters can cover demonstrations without interference.
The source does not say whether police have responded or what action will follow.
Four journalists’ organisations condemned the detention of reporters covering a protest in Delhi on October 10.
They said reporters carrying press identity cards were detained while documenting police action.
The organisations alleged that some journalists’ phones and reporting equipment were confiscated.
They demanded the journalists’ immediate release, an inquiry, the return of equipment and a public apology from Delhi Police.
The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- Who
- Journalists covering the protest were detained; the Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists condemned the action.
- What
- Reporters were detained while covering police action, and the organisations alleged that some equipment was seized.
- When
- October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Delhi, including locations where detainees were taken such as Chhatrasal Stadium and Chanakyapuri police station.
- Why
- The protest demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The organisations said journalists were detained while documenting police action.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Press freedom in India cannot be conditional on PIB accreditation. A large section of digital and independent media does not have PIB cards, yet they are recognised press under the law
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 four journalists’ organisations said they had raised concerns about press access in a memorandum to the Delhi Police commissioner.
Journalists covering the Delhi protest were detained as police took protesters into custody.
The four organisations issued a joint statement condemning the detentions and demanding the journalists’ release.
- Protest date
- October 10
- Protest location
- Delhi
- Organisations
- Press Club of India; Indian Women’s Press Corps; Delhi Union of Journalists; Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists
- Detention locations
- Chhatrasal Stadium; Chanakyapuri police station
- Protest demand
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Police and paramilitary
- 22,000 mentioned in the organisations’ statement
Sources
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