New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) on Sunday condemned the Delhi Police's alleged treatment of journalists covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar and demanded immediate action on complaints of sexual harassment against police personnel.
A statement from the Press Club came a day after three women journalists alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while covering the protest on Saturday. The Delhi Police said it has received their complaints and transferred those to the Crime Branch for a "fair and impartial enquiry".
"The Press Club of India is shocked and dismayed at the Delhi Police's actions against and treatment of journalists during the protests at Jantar Mantar against the chief election commissioner on Friday and Saturday," the journalists' body said in the statement.
It said a woman journalist has alleged that she was "molested and groped by an ACP" and spent hours at the Parliament Street police station on Saturday night trying to get an FIR registered.
The Press Club said journalists from independent organisations and news portals have complained that despite carrying press cards and identifying themselves as mediapersons, they were subjected to aggressive police action, with some even detained along with protesters.
"Behaviour of this kind cannot be normalised in a democracy. Journalists must be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues," it said.
The Press Club demanded that the Delhi Police act on the woman journalist's complaint and ensure that media persons are able to carry out their work without facing aggression or threats.
The allegations came amid three consecutive days of protests in the national capital demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and mass deletion of voters.
On Friday, more than 700 protesters, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj and members of student and youth organisations, were detained after they attempted to reach Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders. Internet services were suspended in parts of central Delhi, and entry and exit at 12 metro stations were temporarily shut as part of security arrangements.
The protesters returned to Jantar Mantar on Saturday, when around 150 people, including All Inida Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, were detained amid heavy police deployment.
The protests continued on Sunday, with student groups calling for a citizens' march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar and police stepping up security in central Delhi.
The Press Club also condemned the suspension of internet services in and around Jantar Mantar on Friday, saying the move severely restricted the flow of information and hindered journalists covering the protests.
"Such arbitrary internet shutdowns should have no place in a democracy," it said.
Opposition parties, student organisations and civil society groups have been demanding the CEC's resignation over the SIR exercise, alleging that it has resulted in large-scale deletion of eligible voters. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that the electoral-roll revision is being carried out according to established procedures.