New Delhi: Delhi Police has registered four FIRs for alleged vandalism of a bus and defacement of public properties in the Parliament Street area during the SIR-related protest in the city Monday. The FIRs also include charges related to obstructing public servants from performing their duties. In all, 17 people were arrested.Another FIR is being filed in connection with an alleged attack on a CISF staffer with a knife near Jantar Mantar. He alleged that that a protester attacked him while being taken away from a barricade. He claimed that the man tried to strike him on the neck, but he managed to move away, causing the knife to slash his right elbow. CISF was deployed at Jantar Mantar for law and order duties, another officer said.The arrested were produced before a court and 13 of them were sent to judicial custody, while four women were released on bail bond, police said.In another case, a man was arrested for allegedly creating an objectionable AI poster of an additional DCP of Delhi Police.On Monday morning, Delhi Police detained protesters in the Parliament Street police station area. They were demanding action over alleged sexual assaults of three women during the ongoing protest demanding removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Those detained Monday claimed they were manhandled while being taken to Delhi Cantt. “These allegations are baseless and misleading. Women protesters are handled by women staff… Detentions and releases are carried out in accordance with the applicable law and prescribed procedures,” police claimed. Male protesters were also released within the stipulated time period, they added.Meanwhile, National Students’ Union of India staged a symbolic protest at Jantar Mantar, where its members portrayed themselves as “living dead” to highlight what the organisation described as a serious threat to democracy and voters’ rights arising from alleged “vote chori”. They alleged several NSUI members were detained by Delhi Police.Advisory for journalistsDelhi Police has issued an advisory for media personnel covering protests. All journalists have been advised to carry valid identity cards issued by their respective organisations and/or valid PIB/DIP accreditation cards, and keep them visibly displayed at all times to facilitate identification by law enforcement agencies at the site.They have been asked to ensure that their presence or activities should not obstruct the movement of law enforcement personnel. They have also been advised to maintain a reasonable and safe distance while covering and recording the protests and position themselves in a manner clearly distinguishing them from protesters.
