Elham Asaad Buaras
Two Muslim women journalists have accused Delhi Police of detaining and assaulting them at Saket Police Station in New Delhi, alleging the violence intensified after officers learned they were Muslim.
Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, journalists with digital news platform 4PM News Network, said they were detained on September 3 while covering the inauguration of a new wing at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in south Delhi. The event was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The journalists said they were stopped while attempting to question Gupta and taken to Saket police station, where they allege they were slapped and beaten with sticks.
Videos released by 4PM News Network show Shaheen describing the alleged assault and displaying bruising and injuries. Another video shows Nafisa being carried away after reportedly becoming unable to walk.
Shaheen said police asked her name and, after hearing “Khan”, questioned her about her community. She alleges the assault intensified after officers learned she was Muslim.
According to her account, an officer noticed an incoming call from someone identified as “Mohammed” on her phone and said: “She’s Muslim… hit her twice more with sticks.”
Delhi Police has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “factually incorrect”, “misleading” and “baseless”.
Police said the journalists were detained after allegedly obstructing a designated VVIP security route with their scooter. Officers said they repeatedly instructed the women to clear the route, but they allegedly refused. Police also denied that the women were assaulted or targeted because they were Muslim.
The allegations have drawn condemnation from several journalists’ organisations, including the Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Association and Kerala Union of Working Journalists. They called for a fair investigation and punitive action against any officers found responsible.
The organisations also urged Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar to order an investigation and called on the Press Council of India to take suo motu cognisance. They demanded that CCTV and other video evidence from the police station be preserved.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera described the footage as “horrifying” and questioned whether Delhi was becoming a “police state”. Congress demanded action against the officers involved, while Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav also condemned the alleged assault.
Journalists, activists and Congress workers staged an overnight sit-in at Saket police station demanding action.
4PM News Network Editor Sanjay Sharma said the organisation would approach the Delhi High Court on September 7 seeking access to CCTV footage and action against the police personnel allegedly involved.
“If there are CCTV cameras in every room of the police station, release the footage. We will accept whatever it shows,” Sharma said.
The organisation also petitioned President Droupadi Murmu for intervention and an impartial investigation.
The alleged religion-based targeting has not been independently established. The women’s accounts, videos showing their injuries, demands from press organisations and the conflicting accounts of the incident have prompted calls for greater scrutiny.
The case has raised concerns over press freedom, police accountability and the treatment of Muslim journalists in India. Delhi Police maintains that the allegations are baseless and that the journalists were detained over a VVIP security violation.
