Journalists stage silent march in New Delhi over arrests and alleged police assault

In New Delhi, journalists marched silently around the Press Club of India to denounce the detention and alleged assault they faced while covering protests over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls by chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Participants reported being heckled, threatened, and held for hours even after presenting valid press IDs, with police reportedly insisting on Press Information Bureau cards and checking a journalist database.

Sarthak Jaiswal described the verification demand, while Sreenivasan Jain suggested the overreaction reflects a regime feeling threatened, especially by younger and digital reporters. Press Club president Sangeeta Pisharoty argued that the state should not decide who qualifies as a journalist, noting that PIB cards only grant security clearance, not journalistic legitimacy. Suhasini Haider of one outlet emphasized the need for collective support to ensure all field reporters feel protected.