Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Delhi Police of failing to protect women and demanded the release of the full CCTV footage from Saket police station after two women journalists alleged assault and mistreatment there last month.
Delhi Police has denied the allegations. Gandhi alleged that hundreds of people were detained during the protests and that women protesters had complained of misbehaviour by male police personnel. “A few weeks ago, Shaheen and Nafisa recounted their experiences of violence and mistreatment inside the Saket police station. Think about it—inside the station, the very place where women go to file complaints. Those entrusted with the responsibility of protecting women are now the ones posing a threat to them. “Mr. Amit Shah—why are you and your police so afraid of women? In a video shared by Gandhi, Shaheen and Nafisa described their alleged treatment at Saket police station. Those detained included AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, former Delhi chief minister Atishi, activist Yogendra Yadav and AISA president Neha Bora.
Journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan of 4PM News Network alleged that they were detained and assaulted at Saket police station on September 3 while reporting outside a hospital during an event attended by Union home minister Amit Shah and Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta . His remarks came amid separate allegations by three women journalists of sexual harassment and manhandling by police personnel while covering protests against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar near Jantar Mantar on October 3. On October 2, Delhi Police detained around 1,000 people as political parties, student groups and civil society organisations attempted to protest near Jantar Mantar.
They alleged that Shaheen attempted to question the chief minister about an alleged “cycle scam”. He also alleged that cameras were snatched from women journalists and said, “Not even an FIR was filed on a journalist’s complaint. And everyone in this country knows who the Delhi Police answers to,” Rahul Gandhi said, referring to Amit Shah.
