The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner over allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct involving three young women during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 3, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.
The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of media reports published on October 5 about the alleged incidents during a demonstration against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The reports alleged that an assistant commissioner of police and two other police personnel were involved in the harassment of the women.
The commission said that, if the allegations reported in the media are found to be true, the incident would amount to a serious violation of human rights. Its notice asks the police to provide details of the investigation, action taken on complaints and other relevant facts connected with the case.
According to the report, complaints were received by the New Delhi district police after the protest. The investigation was later transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The NHRC has sought the current status of that investigation as part of the report to be submitted by the police commissioner.
The commission’s intervention places the handling of complaints arising from a major protest venue under scrutiny. Jantar Mantar is a designated location for demonstrations in the national capital, where protest regulation involves coordination between organisers, police and other public authorities. In this case, the allegations concern conduct during the management of a public demonstration and include claims against serving police personnel.
The NHRC’s notice does not establish the allegations as fact. It asks the Delhi Police to report on the complaints, the investigation and the action taken, while stating that the allegations would constitute a serious human-rights matter if confirmed. The police investigation, therefore, remains central to determining what occurred and whether responsibility can be established.
The reported transfer of the matter to the Crime Branch means that the next documented stage will be the submission of the police response to the NHRC. The commission has set a two-week deadline for the Delhi Police Commissioner to provide the requested information.
