Delhi Protest Why Were Journalists Detained Despite Press IDs?

Journalists detained during Delhi protests have prompted press freedom concerns, as media groups demand an explanation and inquiry into police action.

Delhi Protest: Why Were Journalists Detained Despite Showing Press IDs? Police Action Raises Press Freedom Concerns

New Delhi, October 11, 2026: The detention of journalists covering protests in New Delhi has triggered criticism from press organisations and renewed questions about media freedom, police powers and the right to report on public demonstrations.

Several journalists from digital news platforms and established media outlets were detained while covering demonstrations on October 10 and 11, according to reports published by the affected news organisations. Some journalists said they displayed their press identification cards but were still taken away by police. Reports also alleged that phones and reporting equipment were seized during the operation.

The demonstrations were organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student groups and other supporters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied allegations of deliberate voter-list manipulation.

What Happened to Journalists in Delhi?

Reports from The Quint, Newslaundry, Scroll and The Indian Express described journalists being stopped, questioned and detained while attempting to document police action and the demonstrations.

Some reporters said officers questioned whether their identification cards were genuine or demanded particular forms of accreditation. Other journalists reported being taken in police buses to locations away from where they had been reporting.

Newslaundry reported that its reporters had their phones seized and described physical handling during detention. The Quint reported that some of its journalists were held for several hours while officers checked their identities. On October 11, The Indian Express reported that three of its Hindi journalists were detained in Connaught Place and released around 45 minutes later at Chhatrasal Stadium, approximately 12 kilometres away.

The reports describe the experiences of specific journalists and news organisations. A complete official account explaining the grounds for each detention was not available in the reporting reviewed.

Why Did Police Detain Media Personnel?

Delhi Police had imposed prohibitory restrictions in parts of the capital ahead of the planned demonstration. Authorities cited public-order and security concerns as they attempted to prevent gatherings in restricted locations.

However, the journalists' accounts raise a separate question: whether media personnel were detained for violating a lawful order or were prevented from carrying out legitimate reporting.

According to The Quint, some of its journalists said they had not crossed barricades or entered the restricted protest area. They also said they were carrying identification cards issued by their organisation.

The distinction matters because journalists may need to work near demonstrations to document events, police conduct and public responses. Police can enforce lawful restrictions, but detentions should have a proper legal basis and must not be arbitrary.

The reports reviewed did not establish a specific legal provision or individualised reason for every journalist's detention.

Press Organisations Demand an Apology and Inquiry

The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists' Delhi unit condemned the reported detentions.

The organisations said journalists had been detained despite displaying press cards, and that some had their phones or equipment taken away. They demanded a public apology from Delhi Police, the return of seized equipment and an inquiry into the conduct of officers involved.

They also stressed that press freedom should not depend exclusively on accreditation from the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Independent and digital news organisations may have legitimate journalists who do not hold PIB accreditation.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also called for detained media workers to be released, their equipment returned and reports of physical abuse investigated.

These statements reflect the concerns of press-freedom organisations. Whether individual officers acted unlawfully in each case remains a matter for evidence and appropriate investigation.

What Does Indian Law Say About Journalists' Rights?

The Constitution of India protects freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). This protection is central to journalism, including reporting on protests, public officials and government decisions. The Constitution also permits reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2), including in the interests of public order and other specified grounds.

Journalists do not have blanket immunity from lawful police orders. However, carrying a press card or working for a digital publication should not, by itself, be treated as evidence of unlawful participation in a demonstration.

Article 22 provides safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention. The legal requirements that apply depend on whether a person has been formally arrested or is subject to another form of detention, as well as the specific circumstances.

The Supreme Court has also laid down safeguards governing arrests and detention. Any assessment of the Delhi incidents must therefore consider the applicable orders, the grounds communicated to those detained, the duration of detention and the treatment of their equipment.

Why This Incident Matters

Journalists play a public-interest role during demonstrations by documenting events, recording official statements and reporting allegations from different sides. If reporters are unable to observe police action or communicate with their newsrooms, the public may have less independent information about what happened.

At the same time, authorities have responsibilities to protect public safety and enforce lawful restrictions. The key issue is whether those measures are applied proportionately and without unnecessarily obstructing legitimate journalism.

The October 10–11 detentions have prompted demands for a transparent explanation from Delhi Police. An independent inquiry, clear information about the legal grounds for individual detentions and the return of any improperly seized equipment would help establish the facts.

By News National Editorial Team

Sources

• The Indian Express — Three journalists detained by Delhi Police

• The Quint — Journalists detained and harassed while covering Delhi protest

• Newslaundry — Reporters detained during Delhi protest

• ThePrint — Press bodies demand apology and inquiry

• Committee to Protect Journalists — Organisation's website