New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- A day after two women journalists alleged they were assaulted at a south Delhi police station, they said on Friday that they would move the Delhi High Court to demand CCTV footage of the incident.
The journalists, Shaheen Khan and Nafeesa Khan, made the demand at a press conference along with the editor of their digital news channel, Sanjay Sharma, who said he would move to the Delhi High Court on September 7 seeking release of the footage and action against the police personnel.
However, rejecting the allegations, the police said the two women had obstructed a designated VVIP route by parking their scooter near the venue, and despite repeated requests they refused to comply. Demanding an impartial inquiry into the incident, Sharma said the police personnel found responsible should be "arrested and terminated from service".
"If there are CCTV cameras in every room of the police station, release the footage. We will accept whatever it shows," he said.
The journalists alleged that they were detained on Thursday and taken to Saket police station, where they were taken to a room and assaulted. They said they had gone to south Delhi to cover a programme and intended to question Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Khan alleged that the police also asked the journalists about their religious identity and that they were subjected to "discriminatory treatment" after their identity as Muslims became known.
"Our demand is that our illegal detention by Delhi Police and the snatching of our phones be investigated. Even our FIRs have not been registered," she said.
"This is not just an attack on two journalists. It is an attack on the voice that asks questions, seeks accountability and stands against what is wrong," Khan said.
Nafeesa Khan said she had never experienced such treatment because of her religious identity at any school, college or other institution where she had worked.
The allegations could not be independently verified.
Police said, "In view of the security and safety protocol of the VVIP route, both women were taken to the local police station for further enquiry."
Police also rejected claims that the women were assaulted for attempting to question the chief minister, describing such allegations as "false, misleading and baseless".
Police statement was deleted, while journalists pursued legal action over alleged assault, detention and religious profiling at Saket police station.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.