DU journalist alleges assault during campus protest; NHRC seeks police action report

A female journalist covering student protests at Delhi University's North Campus has alleged that she was physically assaulted between February 14 and 17 while documenting the demonstration. The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident, issuing notices to the Delhi Police Commissioner and the university's Vice-Chancellor, seeking action reports within four weeks.

What Happened

The journalist, who also works as a content creator, was covering student protests related to campus fee hikes and hostel conditions. During the coverage, she alleges she was surrounded, pushed, and physically assaulted. Her equipment was reportedly damaged. She has filed an FIR with the Maurice Nagar police station and submitted medical documentation of her injuries.

Multiple journalist unions — including the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Press Club of India — have condemned the attack and demanded an independent investigation, separate from the university's internal inquiry process.

Why It Matters

Campus protests in India are an integral part of democratic expression. Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jadavpur University, and IITs have historically been spaces where students challenge policy, demand accountability, and organise collectively. The presence of media during these protests is not incidental — it is what separates peaceful dissent from suppressed dissent.

When journalists covering these events face violence — whether from police, from counter-protesters, or from unidentified individuals — the chilling effect extends beyond the individual victim. Other reporters become reluctant to cover campus protests. Stories go unreported. Student voices are silenced not by policy but by intimidation.

NHRC's Role

The NHRC's intervention is significant because it places the burden of accountability on two institutions: the Delhi Police (for failing to protect a journalist at a protest) and the university administration (for the conditions that allowed the assault to occur on campus). Whether this translates into meaningful action — disciplinary proceedings, arrests, compensation — depends on the quality of the investigation and the willingness of both institutions to cooperate.

The commission has previously intervened in cases of journalist harassment, but follow-through rates are poor. Of the NHRC notices issued in assault cases in 2024, fewer than 30% resulted in documented action by state authorities.