Editors Guild urges Delhi Police to protect journalists at Jantar Mantar

MUMBAI: Covering a protest should not mean becoming part of the story for the wrong reasons. The Editors Guild of India has urged the Delhi Police to ensure the safety of journalists reporting from Jantar Mantar following allegations of sexual harassment involving female journalists on duty at the protest site.

In a statement issued on 9 October, the Guild expressed concern over the allegations and said the police had yet to take cognisance of the matter. It called on the Delhi Police and the Union Home Ministry to introduce clear guidelines for police and security personnel to protect journalists while they carry out their professional duties.

The Guild said such safeguards should be framed along the lines of guidelines issued for protesters, arguing that journalists also need clear protections while covering demonstrations and public gatherings.

It also urged security personnel to exercise caution and refrain from coercion or violence against members of the media. Journalists, the Guild emphasised, must be able to report without fear, obstruction or intimidation.

The statement was issued by Editors Guild of India president Sanjay Kapoor and general secretary Raghavan Srinivasan. The Guild’s appeal places the focus on the safety of media professionals covering protests and the need for clear protocols governing their treatment by security personnel.

The Guild’s statement called for institutional safeguards to help journalists carry out their work safely, particularly in situations where tensions may run high. It did not provide further details of the alleged incidents in the information released.