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A political and media storm has erupted in India after two women journalists said they were detained and brutally assaulted by Delhi Police while covering an event in south Delhi, with the assault becoming worse after officers learned that they were Muslim.
The journalists, Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, work with digital news platform 4PM News Network. Videos showing their bruises and injuries have gone viral on social media, prompting condemnation from opposition parties, journalists’ organisations and the Press Council of India.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, have strongly denied the allegations, saying the two women were taken to the Saket police station after allegedly obstructing a designated VVIP route during an event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The incident took place on Thursday, when Shah and Gupta were attending the inauguration of a new wing at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in Saket.
According to Khan and her colleague, they had gone to cover the event and were attempting to ask questions from the chief minister. They allege that police personnel stopped them, detained them and took them to Saket police station.
In videos circulated by 4PM News Network, Shaheen Khan is seen inside the police station describing the assault and showing injuries. Another video shows Nafisa Khan unable to walk and being carried away. The journalists have alleged that they were beaten with sticks and slapped.
Shaheen has said that police personnel asked her name and, after hearing “Khan”, asked which community she belonged to. She alleges that the assault subsequently intensified after officers learned that she was Muslim.
According to Shaheen, an officer saw an incoming call from someone identified as “Mohammed” on her phone and said: “Muslim hai… do dande zyada maaro (She’s Muslim… hit her twice more with sticks). Source TRT World.