New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding the alleged sexual harassment of three women journalists by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3.
Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights, the NHRC has issued a notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
According to the media report, three women journalists alleged that they were subjected to sexual misconduct by police personnel while being detained during the protests at Jantar Mantar.
The NHRC said the press report, carried on October 5, stated that the New Delhi District Police had received complaints regarding the alleged incidents and transferred them to the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for an enquiry.
The Delhi Police said that the complaints were being transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.
In a post on X, the Delhi Police said that on October 3, during the protest in the New Delhi area, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers.
“New Delhi District has received their complaints, and the same have been transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry,” it said.
The protests were being held at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Meanwhile, amid the allegations, Vivek Bhagat, Assistant Commissioner of Police, voluntarily requested that he not be allowed to continue with his temporary current duty charge assignment until a full enquiry into the alleged harassment of the women journalists was conducted and satisfactorily concluded.
Following his request, the Delhi government modified an October 5 order assigning additional charge to senior police officers. The revised order excluded Bhagat and covered the remaining 11 officers.
