Delhi police urge media to keep distance from protesters amid harassment allegations
Delhi police officials asked journalists to stay back from protest sites, while three women reporters filed complaints of sexual harassment and forceful detention during a Jantar Mantar demonstration.
Manjeet Sheoran, an additional deputy commissioner of Delhi police, appealed to journalists to cover protests from a distance, accusing some of crossing into protest lines and obstructing police duties. This statement came as accusations surfaced that police were forcibly removing people from trains and homes to prevent protest participation. On October 3, three women journalists reported being detained, manhandled, and sexually harassed by police officers at Jantar Mantar.
Their complaints have been logged, medical examinations conducted, and the matter forwarded to the Crime Branch at Kamla Market for further probing, according to Deputy Commissioner Neha Yadav. The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu notice of the allegations and requested a comprehensive report from the Delhi Police Commissioner within two weeks. The incidents highlight tensions between law enforcement and the press during a heightened law-and-order situation.
Why it matters
The story underscores concerns over press freedom and police conduct during protests in India's capital.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage centers on the Supreme Court rejecting a plea for an independent probe into the protest, while center and right-leaning coverage focus on the police directive for journalists to keep distance amid harassment allegations.
LEFT
Frames the story as the court denying a request for an independent, fair investigation into the protest.
CENTER
Frames the story as police urging the media to stay back while highlighting allegations of journalists being detained, manhandled and sexually harassed.
RIGHT
Frames the story as police instructing journalists to keep a respectful distance, stressing that press participation hampers police operations and noting harassment complaints.
The left emphasises
- SC rejected plea for independent probe into the protest
- calls for a fair, independent investigation
The right emphasises
- press participation impedes police duties
- journalism is vital but should not interfere with law-enforcement
- complaints of sexual harassment and physical manhandling by police
Possibly left out
- Left-leaning coverage omits the police directive for media distance, absent from centrist coverage
In this story
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