Agencies | New Delhi:
Delhi Police on Sunday said complaints alleging sexual harassment by police officers during a protest in New Delhi on October 3 have been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.
According to a statement issued by the Delhi Police, three female journalists submitted complaints alleging sexual harassment by police personnel while officers were handling the law-and-order situation during the protest.
“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,” the police said.
The New Delhi district police received the complaints and subsequently transferred them to the Crime Branch for inquiry, the statement added.
The development comes amid protests near Jantar Mantar on October 3, where demonstrators had gathered as part of an ongoing agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstrations witnessed a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel, with barricades erected to prevent protesters from reaching restricted areas.
According to PTI, nearly 200 protesters were detained during Saturday’s demonstrations. Among those detained were AISA national president Neha Bora, civil society activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Protesters, including members of student organisations and civil society groups, had attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders in force in the New Delhi district.
The latest mobilisation followed protests on Friday, when nearly 1,000 people were detained in and around Jantar Mantar, PTI reported. Many of those detained were subsequently released.
On Saturday, protesters marched from Patel Chowk towards Jantar Mantar, prompting police and paramilitary personnel to deploy additional forces and put up barricades. Several demonstrators were detained and taken to different police stations, officials said.
The allegations concerning police conduct came amid separate claims by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) regarding the treatment of women protesters, journalists and lawyers during the demonstrations.
According to PTI, AISA alleged that women protesters, journalists and lawyers were manhandled by male police personnel and claimed that some women had complained of being groped.
The organisation also alleged that male police officers abused women protesters and behaved improperly during crowd-control operations. These allegations have not been independently established.
The latest development comes as Delhi Police investigates cases arising from the wider protests at Jantar Mantar.
PTI reported that at least three FIRs were registered in connection with the mass protest held on October 2—two at Parliament Street police station and one at Connaught Place police station.
Police invoked Sections 223(a), 221, 132 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the protests.
The provisions relate to disobedience of a lawful order issued by a public servant, obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions, assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from performing official duties, and acts carried out by several persons in furtherance of a common intention.
Ahead of the protests, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been imposed across the New Delhi district. The order restricted gatherings of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing, dharnas and slogan-shouting without prior written permission.
The protests have been linked to the broader political debate over the Election Commission’s SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that differing views raised during its deliberations are part of its institutional decision-making process and that decisions concerning the SIR schedule were unanimous.
