At least 16 journalists from various news outlets were detained by Delhi Police while covering protests against the Chief Election Commissioner, according to reports.
On Sunday, at least 16 journalists, including those from The Indian Express Hindi, The Caravan, Peek TV, Malayalam news channels like Reporter TV, 24 News and Asianet News, and independent journalist Shyam Meera Singh, were detained by the Delhi Police while covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the second consecutive day. The journalists were reportedly taken into custody at various locations in Delhi, including Connaught Place and near Lady Hardinge Hospital. According to reports, some of the journalists were assaulted, had their social media accounts restricted, and were asked to delete footage. Independent journalist Nidhi Suresh was detained along with student leader Neha Bora. The Malayalam journalists were released hours later, while independent journalist M Rajshekhar was held while taking photographs of students being detained in Connaught Place. On Saturday, Scroll journalists Ayush Tiwari and Shoaib Daniyal, Divya Aslesha from Pune, and several other journalists from Newslaundry, The Quint, the Navbharat Times, Reuters, Alt News, Boom Live, Molitics, and Reporter TV were also detained but released later. Global media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières raised concerns about the 'brutal detention' of journalists in India while covering the protests. The Digipub News India Foundation, an association of independent digital news organisations and journalists, expressed concern about the conduct of the Delhi Police and the Union government and demanded that authorities comply with the Supreme Court's orders and immediately release all detained journalists.
Source:
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