-Friday World | 4 Sep 2026
In a democracy, a journalist's job is to ask questions. But when a journalist is dragged to a police station and beaten for asking a question, when she is abused after being asked about her religious identity - it is not just an incident, it is a question mark on the entire system. What happened in Saket, Delhi on 3rd September has once again raised serious questions about press freedom and police conduct.
Senior journalist Shaheen Khan and her colleague Nafisa Khan of digital news platform '4PM' have alleged that they were detained while on duty and subjected to brutality inside Saket Police Station.
What Actually Happened?
According to reports, Shaheen and Nafisa had gone to cover the inauguration of a new wing at Max Hospital in Saket. The event was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
It is alleged that when Shaheen Khan tried to ask a tough, public-interest question to the Chief Minister, the police on duty took offence. They were stopped, detained, and taken directly to Saket Police Station.
The allegations made by the victim journalists are extremely serious. They claim that inside the police station, they were taken to a closed room where women police personnel started beating them. It is alleged that during the assault, their religious identity was asked, and as soon as their surname 'Khan' was heard, the violence escalated, accompanied by objectionable communal slurs. Shaheen Khan herself released a video showing her injuries.
Later, both were taken to AIIMS for medical examination. From around 10 PM, they sat on a dharna inside the police station itself, demanding an FIR against the guilty policemen.
All-Night Protest, Complaint Filed After Hours
After the incident, there was outrage in the journalist community. Till late night, a large number of journalists, press bodies and civil society members gathered outside Saket Police Station, shouting slogans demanding an FIR.
Workers from Congress Minority Department and student groups like AISA also reached in support. After several hours of struggle and protest, their complaint was finally registered.
What Did Press Bodies Say?
The alleged brutality has been strongly condemned by the Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Association and Kerala Union of Working Journalists.
In a joint statement, they said this is a direct attack on independent journalism. They have demanded identification and punitive action against the SHO of Saket Police Station and other responsible officers, preservation of all CCTV footage from the spot and the police station, and suo-motu cognizance and an independent inquiry by the Press Council of India.
The editor of Media Dustak said the incident is an encroachment on press freedom and the police must shed its colonial mindset.
What is Delhi Police's Version?
On the other hand, Delhi Police has categorically denied all allegations, calling them factually incorrect and misleading.
According to the police, the two journalists were brought to the station for obstructing the VVIP route and disobeying police instructions, and the allegation of assault is false. However, a detailed official statement from Delhi Police on the entire matter is still awaited.
This Is Not Just About Two Women
This incident raises three big questions:
1. Are women journalists safe? If such alleged brutality can happen to women journalists inside a police station in the capital Delhi, amidst cameras and VVIP security, what would be the state of independent journalism in small towns?
2. Is asking questions a crime? When a journalist asks questions to those in power, is detention the answer? In a democracy, asking questions to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister is the dharma of a journalist, not a crime.
3. Targeting after asking identity? The most dangerous allegation is that the beating was intensified after asking about religion. If true, it is a direct attack on Articles 14, 15 and 19 of the Indian Constitution.
Today it is Shaheen and Nafisa, tomorrow it could be someone else. That is why a fair, judicial probe into this matter is essential. The CCTV footage should be made public, the medical reports should be brought to light, and whoever is guilty, whether in uniform or otherwise, should be brought to justice under the law.
Because when the pen is silenced, democracy stops speaking.
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World | 4 Sep 2026
#PressFreedom #JusticeForShaheenAndNafisa #AttackOnJournalism #DelhiPolice #SaketPoliceStation #4PMNews #WomenJournalists #FreedomOfPress #JournalismIsNotACrime #DemocracyUnderAttack
