Three female journalists have accused Indian police officers of sexual harassment during ongoing demonstrations in New Delhi, escalating tensions as thousands gather to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The allegations surfaced on Saturday following a third day of protests in Delhi and Mumbai, where demonstrators are opposing large-scale changes to the national voter rolls. In response to the complaints, the Delhi Police confirmed that the New Delhi District received the report and has transferred the matter to its crime branch for what it described as a “fair and impartial” inquiry.
The protests were triggered by revelations from The Indian Express, which reported that two fellow election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally objected at least 14 times over ten months to decisions made without their knowledge. The disputes primarily concern the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process the Election Commission states is necessary to remove duplicate and ineligible entries. So far, 130 million names have been removed from the lists.
While the Election Commission maintains that all decisions were taken unanimously and that differing views are part of the decision-making process, the disclosures have ignited public outrage. Opposing leaders have called for Kumar’s resignation, with opposition figure Rahul Gandhi stating that women are fearing for their safety and demanding accountability from the home ministry.
During the unrest at the Jantar Mantar protest site, videos circulated online showing individuals being physically dragged away by law enforcement. Aahna Singh, a Jawaharlal Nehru University activist, told Reuters that police resorted to “brutality,” alleging they were dragged by their hair.
The female journalists specifically accused officers of inappropriate touching. Protesters, including supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), argue the voter-roll revisions favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The CJP, which began as an online satirical movement, achieved a notable victory in July by forcing the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after weeks of campaigns for education reforms.
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