New Delhi: Three women identifying themselves as journalists have lodged formal complaints alleging manhandling and sexual harassment by Delhi Police personnel during their detention at a demonstration in the national capital, senior officials confirmed on Sunday. The alleged incident occurred on Friday, October 3, while police were clearing a protest staged against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav stated that the complainants approached authorities around 6:00 PM to report the misconduct during their detention. Yadav confirmed that the complaint has been officially registered, medical examinations have been completed, and the case has been handed over to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for an in-depth investigation. Authorities have also issued a public appeal urging anyone with video recordings or photographic evidence from the site to provide their footage to Crime Branch investigators.
According to police officials, the demonstration organized by the All India Students’ Association and various other groups proceeded despite the enforcement of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area. Yadav explained that demonstrators were cautioned to vacate the premises due to the prohibitory orders, and officers initiated detentions only after the crowd refused to comply with repeated dispersals.
Separately, Delhi Police acknowledged on X that the New Delhi District had received complaints from three female journalists citing sexual harassment by on-duty officers while handling the law-and-order situation. Multiple demonstrators were taken into custody near Jantar Mantar during protests aimed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, where attendees—including student leaders and prominent legal figures—attempted to bypass police barricades. Police have already registered at least three FIRs across Parliament Street and Connaught Place police stations regarding the demonstrations.
The street demonstrations erupted following media reports claiming two Election Commissioners had formally raised internal objections over decisions concerning voter roll management and related technology platforms. The Election Commission of India has since dismissed claims of institutional dissent, clarifying that operational exchanges and suggestions during draft stages represent routine administrative procedures and reiterating that final decisions regarding the revision timeline were reached unanimously.
