Protesters Seeking FIR Over Alleged Sexual Harassment of Journalists During Jantar Mantar Protest Detained Outside Police Station

New Delhi: Several protesters were detained outside the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Monday after staging an overnight sit-in demanding the registration of an FIR and a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against three women journalists by police personnel.

The allegations stem from an October 3 demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during which the three journalists accused police personnel of sexual harassment. Protesters said they had gathered outside the station around 6 pm on Sunday and remained through the night, only to be detained around 7am on Monday without the FIR being registered. One detained protester told PTI they were given no update on the case despite their demands, while another called for the CCTV footage of the incident to be properly examined, alleging that a similar complaint had been filed against the same officer in July that was never investigated.

ANI reported that another protester alleged that police used force, including sticks, against demonstrators inside the station, including women and persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police confirmed that the New Delhi district had received the journalists' complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch at Kamla Market for what it described as a fair and impartial inquiry, though protesters maintained that no formal case had been registered as of Monday, and no independent confirmation of the underlying allegations has yet emerged.

Several prominent figures, including AISA president Neha Bora and senior advocates Prashant Bhushan and Kapil Sibal, were reported to have attempted to breach police barricades near Jantar Mantar in connection with the broader protest.