Three female journalists have accused Delhi police of sexual harassment during a protest calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over changes to voter rolls.
The claims surfaced Saturday after authorities detained scores of young protesters demanding the chief commissioner step down. Delhi Police said the New Delhi District has received the complaint and it has been forwarded to its crime branch for a "fair and impartial" inquiry.
The protest, which last Sunday drew thousands in both Delhi and Mumbai, carries the stance that the voter‑roll overhaul favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission maintains that the revision—known as the Special Intensive Revision—aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries, and 130 million names have already been struck off.
Videos online show police physically dragging protestors away from the Jantar Mantar site in central Delhi. The three journalists accused officers of inappropriate touching and physical aggression, with one alleging she was dragged by her hair.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said women fear for their safety and the home ministry must "answer for this". “Police dragged me by my hair,” said Aahna Singh, an activist and JNU student, to Reuters during the protests, describing police brutality.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of Delhi Police’s conduct amid a broader controversy over the Election Commission’s handling of voter‑roll revisions. The investigation continues while the protests persist, with protesters calling for a transparent review of the process and the safety of journalists covering the demonstrations.
