Delhi cop accused of sexually harassing journalist during anti-CEC protest promoted
Delhi Police officer Vivek Bhagat, accused of sexually harassing a woman journalist during the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar, was promoted to additional deputy commissioner on Monday, along with 11 other officers.
A senior police officer said the promotions were routine and had been proposed well before the allegations surfaced. Bhagat, a 2018-batch DANIPS officer, was serving as an assistant commissioner.
The order comes as the Crime Branch examines complaints from three women journalists alleging sexual harassment by police officers during the protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The other officers promoted are Dr Vikas Sheokand, A Venkatesh, Gursewak Singh, Renu Lata, Vidushi Kaushik, Manu Himanshu, Sakaria Mihir Pravinbhai, Garima Tiwari, Ashish Kumar, Manish Ladla and Rohit Gupta.
Delhi Police said on Sunday that the complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial inquiry”.
Journalists staged a sit-in outside Parliament Street police station, demanding FIRs against the officers.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das accused Bhagat of touching a woman journalist inappropriately and demanded his suspension and an FIR. The party’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, alleged that police had refused to register an FIR on her complaint.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) also alleged that male police personnel manhandled women protesters, journalists and lawyers. Several women had complained of being groped, it said.RAHUL QUESTIONS AMIT SHAH, PRESS CLUB SEEKS ACTION
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pointing out that Delhi Police comes under his ministry.
“For hours, hundreds of journalists have been sitting there with just one demand: that an FIR be registered. Isn’t that the police’s basic duty?” Gandhi wrote on X.
He also alleged that cameras were snatched and journalists dragged during the protest.
The Press Club of India said it was “shocked and dismayed” by the treatment of journalists and urged police to act on the complaints.
“Journalists must be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues,” it said.
The protests were held amid Opposition allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.POLICE ISSUE ADVISORY FOR JOURNALISTS
Delhi Police have also issued an advisory asking journalists covering protests to carry valid organisational identity cards or PIB/DIP accreditation cards and keep them clearly visible.
Journalists have been asked to avoid obstructing police operations or personnel movement, maintain a safe distance during tense situations and keep themselves separate from protesters.
Police said some people, including digital journalists, had surrounded personnel on duty to record videos and pushed microphones close to the faces of CRPF and other paramilitary personnel.
They alleged that personnel were prevented from carrying out their duties while being questioned and filmed.- Ends
