Delhi Police detain journalists from Newslaundry, Scroll, NBT, Reporter TV

Several journalists from independent and mainstream news organisations were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday, October 10, while covering a protest in the capital against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with news outlets reporting that some were taken away despite identifying themselves as journalists and displaying their press cards. Several advocates who were protesting near the Supreme Court area in New Delhi were also detained.

Newslaundry said three of its reporters — Ashwine Singh, Savyasachi Astha, and Anmol Pritam — were detained while covering the protest. The outlet later reported that the three journalists had been released. It had also said that the police seized the official phones the reporters were using for their work.

In a post on X, Newslaundry said the journalists were put on a bus with around 30 people, including protesters. According to the outlet, the reporters identified themselves as media personnel, but were told, “Koi media nahin hai” (there is no media). 

The outlet said its reporters identified Inspector Dhan Singh Malik as the officer who seized their phones.

Scroll journalist Ayush Tiwari was also detained near ITO. Executive Editor Supriya Sharma, in a post on X, said he was taken away by the police despite wearing his ID card prominently and telling the police several times that he is a journalist.

Scroll’s political editor Shoaib Daniyal was also reportedly detained by the police near CR Park. News outlet Quint too similarly reported detention of its journalists.

Navbharat Times editor Ashish said in a post on X platform that Delhi Police have detained the publication’s journalists Hritik Joshi and Rahul Charas while they were filming in the capital. Ashish said the journalists were carrying clearly visible media identity cards and alleged that the police had misbehaved with Rahul. He added that the two journalists were being taken towards the Daryaganj area.

Malayalam news channel Reporter TV also noted that two of its women journalists, Roshni Rajan and Farza TM, were dragged away by the police while covering the agitations.

The detentions took place amid heightened security across Delhi ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The party has called for a youth-led protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral irregularities and concerns surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police denied permission for the demonstration, citing inadequate notice, non-compliance with prescribed guidelines, and concerns over public safety and law and order. Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital, with barricades, vehicle checks, and restrictions at several locations.

The security measures also included restrictions at multiple Delhi Metro stations, the cancellation of several train services, and a suspension of internet services in parts of central Delhi.

Committee to Protect Journalists calls for journalists’ release

The Asia-Pacific program of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Delhi Police to immediately release all detained journalists and media workers, return their equipment, investigate reports of physical abuse, and allow the press to cover the ongoing protests in New Delhi and the police response without interference.

In a post on social media platform X, CPJ said the organisation is closely monitoring the situation and has confirmed the detention of Newslaundry reporters Ashwine Kumar Singh, Astha Savyasachi, and Anmol Pritam, and Scroll reporter Ayush Tiwari. “We are working to identify other detained journalists and media workers. Newslaundry has also reported that police seized its reporters’ phones, while other reports indicate that journalists were physically manhandled,” the X post said.

Stating that a free and independent press is essential to a democracy, the CPJ urged authorities in India to respect journalists’ and media workers’ ability to report in the public interest and to ensure their safety while doing so.

The Supreme Court Bar Association passed a resolution expressing its grave concern and condemning the use of excessive force and detention of  advocates, who were peacefully protesting in the Supreme Court area on Saturday, October 10.

​The Supreme Court Bar Association also resolved to request the Chief Justice of India to intervene urgently and take up the matter with the concerned authorities so that the whereabouts and safety of every detained advocate are ascertained. The association also called for providing legal assistance to detained journalists. ​They also requested that the circumstances of the detentions and the reported use of force be examined, and appropriate action be taken in accordance with law.