New Delhi, October 4
Indian police have launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against police officers during protests in New Delhi against the country’s Election Commission.
Protests began on Friday, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Election Commission of India (ECI) chief Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition groups have accused the commission of wrongdoing during a large-scale revision of voter rolls that they say has resulted in millions of names being removed from electoral lists.
The ECI has rejected the allegations. Kumar has not publicly commented on the claims.
The sexual harassment allegations emerged on Saturday after police detained dozens of protesters near Jantar Mantar, the government-designated protest site in central New Delhi.
Delhi Police said in a statement that three female journalists had made allegations of sexual harassment against police officers.
The police said they would conduct a “fair and impartial enquiry” into the allegations.
In a video posted on social media, one of the complainants alleged that a police officer pushed her and touched her inappropriately.
Protests are expected to continue in the capital on Sunday, with left-wing groups and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also planning demonstrations.
The CJP began as a satirical online movement in May and later campaigned for the removal of India’s then education minister.
CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke, who had criticised the police response and detentions on Saturday, called for the immediate arrest of the officer accused of misconduct.
Meanwhile, Neha Bora, an activist affiliated with a left-wing student organisation, called on protesters to march towards India Gate in central New Delhi.
“From Streets to Protests, Women Are NOT SAFE!” she wrote on social media.
Opposition parties have accused the ECI of acting in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a charge the election body has rejected.
Opposition leaders have announced plans to march to the Election Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday, followed by “Save Democracy” rallies across the country.
The CJP has also called for a “massive mobilisation of young Indians” in New Delhi on October 10.
