Journalists Accuse Indian Police of Sexual Harassment During Delhi Protests
Allegations of inappropriate touching and rough handling emerge after dozens were detained during demonstrations against the election chief.
Three female journalists have accused police officers in India of sexual harassment during street protests in the capital, Delhi, on Saturday. The accusations follow the detention of scores of young people who were demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Delhi and Mumbai for a third consecutive day on Sunday, calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down. Protesters cite concerns over large-scale changes to voter rolls, which the Election Commission states are intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries. So far, 130 million names have been removed from the voters' list.
Videos circulating online depict individuals being physically removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi. The journalists' allegations include claims of inappropriate touching by some police personnel.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi stated that women fear for their safety and demanded an answer from the home ministry. Aahna Singh, an activist and student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Reuters news agency that police had dragged her by her hair during the protests, describing the actions as "brutality."
Delhi Police have acknowledged the complaints through a statement on social media, indicating that the New Delhi District has received the report and transferred it to its crime branch for a "fair and impartial" inquiry.