NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is holding a protest outside the Parliament Street police station after three women journalists alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi.CJP leader Saurav Das said the police were unwilling to meet one of the journalists who has accused ACP Vivek Bhagat of sexually assaulting her. Das said the party would continue its protest outside the police station until they were allowed to meet the alleged victim.“We are outside the Parliament Street Police Station. The Police is unwilling to meet the victim who has been molested by ACP Vivek Bhagat. This is unacceptable! We will continue to stand here until they let us in!”What the journalists allegedOne of the journalists told PTI that an assistant commissioner of police sexually assaulted her while she was covering the protest. She alleged that police personnel were detaining protesters and that no women police personnel were present at the spot.“Police personnel were detaining protesters, and there were no women police personnel present at the spot. I asked ACP Vivek Bhagat of the Delhi Police about the absence of women police personnel, following which he sexually assaulted me and pushed me back,” she alleged.The journalist said she and others subsequently went to a police station to lodge an FIR but alleged that no action had been taken so far. Delhi Police, however, said on Sunday that complaints had been received from three women journalists alleging sexual harassment by police personnel.“On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. New Delhi District has received their complaints,” Delhi Police informed on X.CJP’s Dipke alleged that Delhi Police had also detained people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to establish a foreign-funding connection.“Delhi Police has also picked up a couple of people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to forcibly link them to CJP to establish a foreign-funding angle. A friend just told me that one of them was brutally beaten by Delhi Police and has also lost his job because of the arrest,” Dipke wrote on X.
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The Press Council of India expressed “shock and dismay” over the treatment of journalists and urged Delhi Police to immediately act on the complaint.Rahul Gandhi also accused Delhi Police of misconduct at Jantar Mantar and questioned Union home minister Amit Shah over the alleged treatment of journalists and protesters.The protests were held against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid demonstrations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police detained several protesters, while at least three FIRs were registered in connection with the mass protest held near Jantar Mantar on October 2.
