Indian Police Accused of Sexual Harassment During Street Protests in Delhi
BBC News reports on allegations of sexual harassment against journalists by police officers in India during recent street protests in New Delhi.
Three Female Journalists Accuse Police of Sexual Harassment
On Saturday, three female journalists publicly accused Delhi Police of sexual harassment while detaining protesters who were calling for the resignation of the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters Demanding Resignation Over Voter Roll Changes
Thousands of protesters gathered in New Delhi and Mumbai on Sunday for a third day, demanding Kumar's resignation due to large-scale changes to voter rolls. The Election Commission claims the process is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries, with 130 million names already removed.
Accusations Include Inappropriate Touching by Police
Videos surfaced online showing protesters being physically dragged away from the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi. Aahna Singh, an activist and student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Reuters that police subjected her to "brutality" by dragging her by her hair.
Press Club of India Demands Action on Complaints
The Press Club of India expressed shock and dismay over the treatment of journalists and demanded immediate action on the complaints against police officers. They emphasized the importance of allowing journalists to work freely without fear, especially when documenting protests.
Protesters Fear Manipulation of Voter Rolls in Favor of BJP
The protesters accuse the Election Commission of manipulating the voter rolls to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The differences among election commissioners have been reported in The Indian Express, highlighting concerns over Kumar's decisions and orders issued without his colleagues' knowledge.