Journalists Detained for Second Day Amid Protests in Delhi
Numerous journalists faced detention while covering protests in Delhi, despite presenting their press credentials.
Multiple journalists were detained for the second consecutive day during protests in Delhi.
Detained journalists reported physical aggression from police, including being punched and forcibly removed.
The police have not issued any statements regarding the detentions as of the latest updates.
In New Delhi, several journalists were detained for a second consecutive day while covering protests, despite the Supreme Court's directive that professionals should not be obstructed in their duties. This incident occurred on a Sunday, with journalists from both established media outlets and independent platforms among those apprehended.
The situation escalated during an AISA protest at RK Ashram, where a photojournalist reported being forcibly taken into a police van despite displaying his press ID and shouting that he was a member of the media. He recounted that the van, which contained several journalists, was stopped after a few kilometers due to police removing barricades, allowing him and two others to escape.
Nitin Katiyar, a digital journalist, was detained at Connaught Place while covering a student march. He displayed injuries below his right eye, claiming that police had assaulted him inside the bus after he identified himself as a journalist. Additionally, three journalists from Indian Express Hindi were also detained, with the organization confirming their apprehension despite their attempts to inform police of their professional status. They were eventually released at Chhatrasal Stadium.
Pragya Mishra, a journalist from Bharat Samachar, shared her experience of being detained by policewomen while covering protests. She criticized the police's actions, suggesting that they aimed to suppress the truth about the protests. Other media personnel, including a journalist from The Hindu, and various content creators were also reported detained across multiple protest locations, including RK Ashram and Jantar Mantar.
As of the latest reports, there has been no official response from the police regarding the detentions. The ongoing situation raises concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the capital, highlighting the challenges faced by media professionals in fulfilling their roles during civil unrest.
