Journalists manhandled as Delhi cops barge into Congress HQ

As the Delhi police entered the Congress party’s headquarters on Wednesday to detain some party workers, a few journalists covering the action said they were heckled and manhandled for asking questions about it.

It was the third consecutive day of protests by Congress leaders and workers over an investigation into an alleged money laundering case involving party leader Rahul Gandhi.

HW journalist Swarna Jha, who was present on the spot, said, “As section 144 was imposed, party workers began protesting at the gate and inside the office. To detain them, police entered the headquarters. Some journalists present on the spot were heckled.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted a video of the incident in which several journalists can be seen as the police enter the office. However, Delhi police special commissioner SP Hooda denied the police took such a step. “Many people threw barricades at police near the AICC office, so there might've been a commotion. But the police didn't go inside the AICC office…police are not using any force.”

However, Jha insisted that some journalists were dragged away. “TV9 journalist Vikrant Singh and Subah Savera reporter Ajit Jha were manhandled. After this, other media personnel began asking questions. Police then stepped back.”

Another journalist present on the spot said, “As the police tried to push me away, I told them that I am a journalist and showed them my mic ID. They left me. They grabbed Ajit Jha because he didn’t have an ID, but they later let him go.”

Ajit Jha told Newslaundry, “When I asked the police about their entry inside the party office, an officer threateningly told me that ‘whoever violates rules outside, we will enter inside to catch them’. After this, police officials grabbed me and took me outside…they let me go only after other media personnel came.”