Delhi Police has transferred complaints of alleged sexual harassment made by three female journalists against police personnel to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial enquiry.
The alleged incidents took place yesterday during a protest in the New Delhi area, while police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
According to Delhi Police, the New Delhi District received the complaints and handed them over to the Crime Branch for further investigation.
The complaints relate to alleged incidents during the October 3 protest, when police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. The Crime Branch will conduct a “fair and impartial” enquiry and record statements of the complainants and other persons concerned, a police officer said.
One of the journalists had told PTI on Saturday that an assistant commissioner of police had sexually assaulted her during the protest.
She alleged that police personnel were detaining protesters and that no women police personnel were present at the spot. According to her complaint, she questioned ACP Vivek Bhagat about the absence of women personnel, following which he allegedly sexually assaulted her and pushed her back.
Bhagat could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages. A source said his name was mentioned in the complaint submitted by the journalists.
The journalist also alleged that she and others later approached a police station to lodge an FIR but no action was taken at the time.
The Press Council of India expressed “shock and dismay” over the alleged treatment of journalists covering the protest and urged the Delhi Police to act on the complaint immediately.