New Delhi: Three women journalists have alleged that police personnel deployed for security during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 3 sexually harassed them, prompting the New Delhi district police to transfer their complaints to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for an independent investigation.
A senior police officer said on Sunday that complaints had been filed by the women journalists against personnel deployed to maintain law and order at the protest site. The complaints have been handed over to the Crime Branch to ensure a transparent probe into the allegations.
The Crime Branch is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and record statements from the complainants and other people connected with the case, the officer said.
The incident has also drawn criticism from Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. In a social media post, Gandhi alleged that a woman journalist had accused a police officer of misconduct at Jantar Mantar and claimed that hundreds of journalists had been protesting for hours seeking registration of an FIR.
Gandhi further alleged that protesting women were mistreated, cameras were taken away and journalists were dragged by police personnel. These claims are allegations and are subject to investigation.
