Delhi police detained, manhandled several journalists — especially those working independently — alongside other protestors at the Jantar Mantar protest on 2 October, Friday who had gathered to demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid SIR irregularities.
Many videos have come to surface wherein reporters and media personnel can be seen showing their Press card or ID cards repeatedly and yet being forced away by the Delhi police.
Earlier in the day, Maktoob media's Fida Fathima and Jibraan Uddin were also forced, manhandled and by the police who attempted to detain them. This police crackdown became more intensified during the day at Jantar Mantar where hundreds of protestors, including political leaders such as AAP MP Sanjay Singh, RJD's Manoj Jha and CPI (M)'s Brinda Karat were also detained.
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Azamgarh's reputed journalist Rajiv Talwar was also pushed into a bus. He said: "Ye desh kisi party Adhikari ka baap ka nahi hain.." (This country does not belong to any government's official). These detentions also mark a difference from the July-CJP protest where this sort of an action by the state against journalists was not widely seen.