(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Journalist associations yesterday demanded strict action against Delhi police personal involved in assault and molestation of journalists covering a protest by students and teachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, the Press Club of India, the Indian Women's Press Corps, the Press Association and the Federation of Press Clubs in India said journalists were beaten and molested despite telling the police that they are from the media.
Condemning the assault, the associations said two women journalists were roughed up; one of whom was intimidated and threatened by women police officers and even more shockingly, the other journalist was molested by Station House Officer Vidyadhar Singh. A third male journalist has his arm in a sling after being beaten up by policemen.
They said the journalists were assaulted as they tried to take pictures of the protest. The police also snatched their equipment and did not return them.
'Despite repeated pleas that they were journalists and even showing their identity cards, they were not spared, the association said.
'We demand strict action against the police persons involved and the registration of FIRs on the complaints of assault and molestation, both of which have been filed at the respective police stations, the associations said.
On Friday, JNU teachers and students held a protest march demanding the suspension of Professor Atul Johri, accused of sexual harassment, and protesting against the removal of some department heads and a co-ordinator for not complying with the university's new attendance rules.
As hundreds of protesting students and teachers from the university marched towards parliament, the Delhi police undertook a baton charge and fired water cannons on the protesters near the INA Market.
The police yesterday tendered their 'deepest apologies for the attack, with a senior officer stressing that the force did not intend to obstruct the media from doing its job.
'Yesterday's incident was a very unfortunate one. Our deepest apologies to the media. Our intention wasn't to obstruct the media from doing its job, police spokesperson Madhur Verma said in a statement.
The police said the incident happened due to confusion as some female police personnel mistook a photojournalist as a protester.
'Delhi police and I personally have always maintained that the media is an integral part of our democracy. We have always provided access to information and at our end have always tried to ensure media personnel covering the police don't face any problems while doing their job, said Verma.
Meanwhile, several journalists from various organisations gathered outside the office of police commissioner in the afternoon to protest against the incident.
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