Sultanpuri death protests: 3 journalists ‘manhandled’ by Delhi cops

Three journalists – from Mirror Now, Times Now and Republic TV – have alleged that they were manhandled by the police at the Sultanpuri police station in Delhi. The media was present on the spot on Monday to cover protests over a horrific incident, in which a woman riding a scooty was allegedly dragged to death by a car on Sunday night.

The death has triggered a war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party government and the Lieutenant Governor, with the former seeking the latter’s resignation and alleging that the Delhi Police are trying to shield an accused linked to the BJP. The BJP and the L-G have hit back at the AAP, accusing it of politicising the incident. Union home minister Amit Shah has also sought a report from the police over the incident. The accused, meanwhile, are in police remand.

There was heavy police deployment outside the Sultanpuri police station on Monday after protests by local residents and relatives of Anjali, the deceased. Mirror Now reporter Ila Kazmi, Times Now’s Priyank Tripathi and Republic TV journalist Piyush Ohri were allegedly manhandled by the police in the afternoon as journalists tried to speak to Anjali’s family inside the police station.

Delhi Women’s Commission chairperson Swati Maliwal said journalists were earlier threatened with FIRs and are now being assaulted. “Police are not even allowing the media to work to hide their failure. Suppressing the voice of the media in a democracy is a sign of tyranny.”

Zee News journalist Pramod Sharma, who was present on the spot, said, “The relatives of the victim, local MLA Rakhi Birla as well as some journalists had entered the police station. After this, journalists and MLAs were talking to the family members inside the police station. That's why the police sent everyone out."

Ila Kazmi said that she was the only woman reporter present. “I was standing outside the police station, yet a male policeman manhandled me. I was live at the time.” She said the police apologised to her over the incident when she informed them about the same.

Priyank could not be reached for comment.

Piyush Ohri said he was manhandled while police were trying to push people out from inside the police station.

Mirror Now and Republic also tweeted about the incident.

However, police have denied all the charges. “No information of any such incident. No journalist has given any complaint about this,” Additional CP (western range) Chinmay Biswal told Newslaundry.