The Press Club of India (PCI) has issued a scathing statement condemning the Delhi Police for the "arbitrary detention, harassment and seizure of equipment" of journalists covering protests in the capital on Saturday. The protests, which saw a massive police crackdown, were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
In a statement, PCI President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty and Secretary General Afzal Imam described the police action as a "blatant attack on the freedom of press" and reminiscent of a "fascist State."
According to the statement, on Saturday, October 10, Delhi Police detained hundreds of protesters. Journalists who were clearly identified as performing their professional duties were reportedly bundled into police buses and taken to detention centers, including Chhatrasal Stadium and Chankyapuri Police Station.
The PCI highlighted the detention of several prominent journalists, including Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, and reporters from major digital and print outlets such as The Quint, The Wire, Scroll, Reporter TV, Navbharat Times, and Newslandry.
"Reporters said they were detained while filming detentions, despite prominently displaying press card. Cops were uttering that 'Everybody claims to be a journalist these days,'" the statement read. It further noted complaints that official reporting phones were snatched and seized by police.
The statement sheds light on a recurring friction point between independent media and law enforcement in the capital: the requirement of Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation.
The PCI noted that Delhi Police had earlier stated that only PIB-accredited journalists would be allowed to report. The press body strongly rebutted this, stating, "Press freedom in India cannot be conditional on PIB accreditation." They argued that a large section of digital and independent media, which is recognized under the law, does not hold PIB cards.
The PCI revealed that they had submitted a joint memorandum to the Commissioner of Police earlier in the week clarifying these legal points, but the police "decided to act against our suggestions."
The statement painted a grim picture of the situation in New Delhi, describing a "fortress-like situation" with 22,000 police and paramilitary forces deployed, closed metro stations, and unprecedented internet shutdowns. The PCI argued these measures were taken to "stop peaceful questioning of institutions."
The PCI, along with supporting organizations including the Indian Women's Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists, and Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit), has issued four specific demands:
1. Immediate unconditional release of all journalists still in detention.
2. Immediate return of all seized phones and equipment.
3. A public apology from Delhi Police and an inquiry into the conduct of senior officers who detained journalists despite them showing press IDs.
4. A clear assurance that journalists will not be prevented from covering protests, which is their "constitutional duty."
The detention of journalists in Delhi has been a flashpoint in recent years. During the 2020 Delhi riots and the 2021 Farmers' Protests, similar clashes occurred regarding press credentials and police conduct. The insistence on PIB cards is often viewed by independent media bodies as a tactic to restrict coverage by digital-native outlets that are critical of the government.
The protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar come amidst heightened political tensions. While the specific triggers for Saturday's mass protest were not detailed in the PCI statement, demands for the CEC's resignation typically arise from opposition allegations of bias or failure to enforce the Model Code of Conduct during election cycles. The heavy deployment of 22,000 security personnel suggests the administration viewed the gathering as a significant threat to public order.
"We stand in solidarity with all detained colleagues," the statement concluded.
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