Women's groups protest Delhi Police over alleged protest violence

Women's advocacy groups gathered outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Wednesday to protest alleged instances of sexual and physical violence directed at female demonstrators during anti-SIR agitations. The protesters accused law enforcement of employing coercive tactics against women participants, raising concerns about the safety and freedom of women engaged in public demonstrations.

The women's organisations characterised the reported incidents as part of a broader pattern intended to discourage female activism and limit women's voice in public discourse. Spokespeople for the groups argued that such actions, if substantiated, represent a systematic attempt to silence women from participating in legitimate democratic protest.

The demonstration underscores growing concerns among civil society groups regarding policing practices during large-scale public gatherings. Women activists have increasingly raised alarm about gender-specific forms of harassment and violence used during dispersals of protests across major Indian cities.

The allegations have drawn attention to questions about accountability and oversight of law enforcement conduct during demonstrations. Women's rights advocates have called for transparent investigations into the reported incidents and greater institutional safeguards to protect demonstrators.