Supreme Court summons senior Delhi police officer over alleged assault on women journalists

In a hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed that a senior Delhi Police officer appear on Thursday to answer claims that women journalists faced assault and detention while covering anti-Election Commission protests. The request followed a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India, which seeks safeguards for reporters, especially women, at public gatherings. Senior advocates referenced several related petitions, including a contempt case by Freedom Speech Collective alleging breach of a Supreme Court order that barred harassment of media personnel.

Accounts from journalists, such as Hindustan reporter Ashish Singh, describe being pushed, struck with an object and taken onto a police bus despite presenting press identification. Other reporters from The several outlets reported similar detentions. The bench’s intervention comes as it also examines broader allegations of mass detentions and restrictions on movement linked to the protests.