On Saturday, women activists took out a protest march to Delhi Police HQ demanding action against police personnel accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women and transgender protesters, women activists, raising slogans of “You can threaten us, but you cannot silence us”.
Hundreds of women carrying placards and banners, marched towards the Delhi Police Headquarters to submit memorandum calling for accountability over alleged sexual and gender-based violence during demonstrations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi.
In a statement, the organisations said videos, photographs and personal accounts had documented alleged instances of sexual harassment and physical violence against women, transgender and non-binary protesters during police action since July 20, with reports intensifying from October 2.
They cited footage purportedly showing male police personnel assaulting women protesters and alleged that incidents of sexual violence had also taken place inside detention buses and detention centres.
A young woman journalist had also alleged that an assistant commissioner of police-rank officer molested her.
Her attempt to file a complaint was thwarted by police, and surprisingly she was detained and FIR was registered against her, organisations statement said.
“These deliberate actions by the authorities are nothing but misogynistic attempts to silence women’s voices and reveal a larger intent to push us out of politics and public life,” the statement said.
The groups also alleged that protesters had faced casteist, communal and gender-based abuse, accusing the authorities of failing to prevent such incidents or act against those responsible.
The memorandum called for prosecution of personnel found guilty, an end to impunity for sexual assault and protection of the right of women and gender-diverse people to participate in public and political life without fear.
The protesters also opposed the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The march came amid continuing protests and allegations of police repression linked to demonstrations against the Election Commission.
The women’s march was organised by several organisations, including the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), Collective, All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), All India Coordination Committee of Working Women (AICCWW), Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan and Purogami Mahila Sangathan.
