Four journalists’ organisations, including the Press Club of India (PCI) and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), on Saturday condemned Delhi Police’s detention of journalists covering protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging that reporters were held despite showing press cards and that some had their phones and equipment seized.
In a joint statement, the organisations said Delhi Police detained hundreds of protesters and bundled journalists covering the demonstrations into buses before taking them to detention centres, including Chhatrasal Stadium and Chanakyapuri police station.
The statement was issued by the PCI, IWPC, Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ). Journalists detained included reporters from The Quint, The Wire, Scroll, Reporter TV, Navbharat Times and Newslaundry, as well as senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.
“The reporters said they were detained while filming detentions, despite prominently displaying their press cards,” the statement said.
The organisations alleged that police officers dismissed the reporters’ claims of being journalists, with some reportedly saying, “Everybody claims to be a journalist these days.” They also said they had received complaints that official reporting phones belonging to some detained journalists had been seized.
Describing the detentions as a “blatant attack on the freedom of press”, the organisations objected to Delhi Police’s reported position that only journalists accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) would be permitted to cover the protests.
“Press freedom in India cannot be conditional on PIB accreditation. A large section of digital and independent media does not have PIB cards, yet they are recognised press under the law,” the statement said.
The four bodies said they had submitted a joint memorandum to the Delhi Police commissioner earlier in the week, raising concerns about restrictions on journalists covering the demonstrations. They alleged that the police had disregarded their suggestions.
They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists, the return of seized phones and equipment, and a public apology from Delhi Police. They also called for an inquiry into the conduct of senior police officers who allegedly ordered the detentions despite being shown press identity cards.
The organisations further demanded a clear assurance that journalists would not be prevented from covering protests.
The statement also criticised the security arrangements in the capital, alleging that 22,000 police and paramilitary personnel had been deployed, metro stations closed and internet services shut down to prevent demonstrations.
“Preventing journalists from doing their job, detaining them without reason, and creating a fortress-like situation in the capital with 22,000 police and paramilitary, closed metro stations and unprecedented internet shutdowns, to stop peaceful questioning of institutions is reminiscent of a fascist state,” the organisations said.
The four bodies expressed solidarity with the detained journalists and stressed that reporters must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without intimidation or interference.
(With inputs from PTI)