Condemning the police attack on journalists at a protest held on March 23, several scribes protested at the Delhi Police Headquarters on Saturday.
Journalists at the protest also demanded investigation of previous incidents where scribes had been attacked by the police.
Demanding immediate action against the officers, the scribes submitted a memorandum to the police.
“Attacks on journalists, in the line of duty have become routine and this is condemnable and unacceptable to us. We demand strict action against the police officers concerned for attacking mediapersons in the line of their duty. This has happened in the past too. Cases of manhandling of all journalists in the past should be reopened and investigated and action must be taken against all,” read the memorandum. Amidst heavy sloganeering, several photojournalists kept their cameras on the ground, in protest.
Journalists also objected to the fact that in the recent past, there had been multiple incidents when scribes had been attacked by the police.
Inquiry initiated
Addressing the protesters, Delhi Police spokesperson Dependra Pathak said, “An independent inquiry has been initiated by the vigilant unit. It will be completed in two-three days and action will be taken accordingly.”
However, when the complainant, who was also present at the protest, approached the officer and asked why an FIR had not been registered yet, the officer did not respond.
On Friday, students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University had called for a “long march” from the university campus to Parliament Street, to protest against several issues including privatisation of education and demanding suspension of professor Atul Johri accused of sexual harassment.
It was when the police stopped the students near INA Market, that a clash erupted. In the melee, several journalists were also injured.
A female reporter of a leading national daily alleged that she was molested by an officer. Another photojournalist also alleged that she was attacked by female constables and her camera was snatched away. Both the journalists have filed respective complaints.
Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) in a statement said, “The Delhi Police brutally attacked the students and teachers with water canon and lathi charged them. Even many women journalists got injured during the lathi charge. JNUTA condemns this behaviour of Delhi Police in the strongest possible terms.”
The JNUSU said, “What is shocking is that members of the press were violently manhandled and groped. JNUSU condemns in the most vociferous manner the conduct of the Delhi Police and demands an immediate inquiry into the alleged brutalities on students, teachers and journalists.”
