Delhi Police on Sunday said they had received complaints from three women journalists alleging sexual harassment by police officers during a protest in New Delhi on October 3. The complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for what the force called a ‘fair and impartial enquiry’.

The journalists were covering a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. One journalist alleged that an assistant commissioner of police touched her inappropriately and pushed her away while she was recording police action. She also claimed the complaint was not registered immediately at the police station.

The Press Club of India said it was shocked at the police’s treatment of journalists during the protests. The transfer of the complaints to the Crime Branch does not by itself establish the allegations, and the enquiry will now record statements from the complainants and others connected with the matter.