Beaten by police, targeted for our surnames, allege women journalists

Two female journalists, Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, working for the digital news platform 4PM News Network, claimed on Thursday that they were physically attacked and detained by Delhi Police following an incident near the venue of a program attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in South Delhi's Saket. The police responded by denying the allegations, stating that the journalists had obstructed the VVIP exit and parked their vehicle on the route reserved for VIP movement.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning during the inauguration of Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Gupta were present. The journalists said they were stopped by the police and taken to Saket police station, where they alleged physical assault and targeting due to their surname and religion.

Video footage released by 4PM News Network showed the women with bruises and welts on their bodies, which they claimed were inflicted by the police. The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and several journalism associations swiftly condemned the alleged assault, calling for punishment of the Delhi Police officials responsible. However, the Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Anant Mittal, dismissed the claims as "factually incorrect and misleading," asserting that the women had obstructed the designated VIP route and refused to comply with police instructions to remove their vehicle and clear the path.