Protesters at sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi on Monday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Several protesters who were arrested earlier this week after they protested outside the Parliament Street police station demanding an FIR against a police officer accused of harassing a woman journalist held a press conference in Delhi on Friday alleging physical assault, verbal abuse and custodial mistreatment. The woman journalist was covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls.
‘Beaten by policemen’
News Diggy founder Gajendra Singh Bharangar, who was among those held while demanding an FIR against ACP Vivek Bhagat, said two students — identified as Dharmendra and Samarth — who were among those detained, were told that they were being taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Instead, they were taken to the Mandir Marg police station, where they were beaten with belts and batons.
Their harassment did not end there, said Mr. Bharangar. He added that many of those sent to Tihar Jail were questioned about their caste and religion, with some inmates referring to them as “cockroaches”.
On October 5, a city court granted bail to all 17 accused and sought a report from Delhi Police on allegations of “custodial torture” levelled by two protesters.
Delhi Police had registered a case against the 17 accused, alleging that they were part of an unlawful assembly, obstructed a public area, roughed up police personnel and caused damage to public property.
Court’s observations
Acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, the court pointed out that while any person has the right to protest peacefully, assaulting police officers on duty is a matter of serious concern.
The court had also noted that the medico-legal cases of the accused “were not conducted immediately after the incident”.
Demand for probe
Mr. Bharangar and other activists and journalists on Friday demanded an FIR on the woman journalist’s complaint, an impartial probe into the alleged sexual harassment and an independent inquiry into their alleged custodial assault. They said they are also planning to file a fresh complaint alleging harassment and assault by the police while in custody.
Acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar of the Patiala House Courts pointed out that while any person has the right to protest peacefully, assaulting officers is a matter of serious concern.
Published – October 10, 2026 01:37 am IST
