Protesters in Hyderabad demand action against Delhi ACP over alleged assault of woman journalist

A protest demanding the arrest of Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat over the alleged sexual assault of a woman journalist was held at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Sunday, October 4, with participants raising slogans against patriarchy, police violence and the alleged denial of justice to women.

The protest began around 6 p.m. and gradually drew the attention of people in the surrounding areas. As it was a weekend, several people who had come to nearby places stopped to watch the protest, with the gathering growing as speakers addressed the participants and slogans were raised.

Sreeja of the Disha Students’ Organisation said the incident raised questions about the safety of women despite government campaigns and assurances on women’s welfare. “There is assault against women. The government speaks about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, but women are not safe anywhere in the country,” she said.

Another speaker, Hari, referred to Article 14 of the Constitution and said the principle of equality before law was yet to be fully reflected in society. He said people needed to speak out against such incidents for change to take place.

Questioning the role of the police in dealing with crimes against women, Hari said women generally approached the police with the expectation that they would be protected and their complaints registered. Disha Students Organisation linked the alleged incident to wider concerns over patriarchy, women’s safety and democratic rights.