Guwahati: Two women journalists who alleged that they were assaulted at a police station in south Delhi on Thursday said on Friday that they would approach the Delhi High Court for access to CCTV recordings of the incident.
Journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafeesa Khan made the announcement at a press conference attended by Sanjay Sharma, editor of their digital news channel.
Sharma said he would approach the High Court on September 7, seeking access to the recordings and action against the police personnel involved.
The Delhi Police has denied the allegations. According to the police, the journalists had parked their scooter near a venue along a designated VVIP route, obstructing the area. Police said the women did not move the scooter despite being asked several times to do so.
Sharma called for an independent investigation and said police personnel found responsible should be arrested and removed from service.
He also said the CCTV recordings should be made public if cameras were installed inside the police station, adding that the journalists would accept the findings shown in the footage.
The two journalists alleged that they were detained on Thursday and taken to Saket police station, where they were allegedly taken into a room and assaulted.
They said they had travelled to south Delhi to report on a programme and planned to ask questions to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Shaheen Khan also alleged that police personnel questioned them about their religion. She said they faced discriminatory treatment after police learned that they were Muslims.
Khan said the journalists wanted an inquiry into what they described as unlawful detention and the alleged taking away of their mobile phones. She also alleged that police had not registered their FIRs.
Khan said the incident should not be viewed only as an alleged attack on two journalists, arguing that it also raised concerns about the ability of journalists to question those in authority and demand accountability.
Nafeesa Khan said she had not previously faced similar treatment because of her religion at any school, college or workplace where she had studied or worked.
The allegations could not be independently confirmed.
The police said the two women were taken to the local police station as part of security arrangements for the VVIP route and for further questioning.
Police also rejected the claim that the journalists were assaulted because they wanted to question the chief minister, calling the allegation false and without basis.
The police statement was later deleted. The journalists, meanwhile, said they would pursue legal action concerning the alleged assault, detention and claims of religious profiling at Saket police station.