India’s police investigate sexual harassment allegations during protests
Delhi police say three female journalists made sexual harassment allegations against police officers during protests in the capital against the country's election commission.
Indian police are investigating allegations of sexual harassment against officers during protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi, according to authorities. The protests began on Friday, demanding the resignation of ECI chief Gyanesh Kumar, who was accused of wrongdoing during a voter-roll revision that removed millions of names from the electoral lists.
The ECI has denied the allegations, and its chief Kumar has not commented. On Saturday, the harassment allegations emerged as police detained numerous protesters at the designated Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi.
Three female journalists accused police officers of inappropriate touching and pushing, according to a statement from the Delhi police, which pledged to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry. In a video circulating on social media, a complainant alleged that a police officer touched her inappropriately. The CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke called for the immediate arrest of the accused officer.
Left-wing activist Neha Bora urged protesters to march to India Gate in central New Delhi, posting the hashtag "Women Are NOT SAFE!" on social media.
Opposition politicians have accused the ECI of acting under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They have announced plans to march to the Election Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday and hold "Save Democracy" rallies across the country thereafter. The CJP has called for a massive mobilization of young Indians in New Delhi on October 10.
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