‘Put into buses, vans despite IDs’: Journalists detained again

Detention means authorities temporarily hold or restrict someone’s movement. It can happen for questioning, crowd control, or another stated purpose. Arrest is generally a more formal legal action, usually linked to suspected wrongdoing and specific procedural protections. The exact distinction depends on the law and circumstances.

In this report, journalists were placed in police buses and vans while covering protests. Some were later released, which is consistent with temporary detention rather than a continuing arrest. Three Indian Express Hindi journalists were released at Chhatrasal Stadium.

The article does not say that any journalist was formally arrested or charged. It reports that police detained people despite their media identities and that some alleged force or injury. Whether a detention was lawful would depend on its reason, duration, safeguards, and whether police followed due process.

The article does not provide one complete number for everyone detained. It says several journalists were detained for a second day, including journalists from established organisations, independent portals, and other media backgrounds.

The report gives some concrete figures. One police van held seven to eight journalists. Three Indian Express Hindi journalists were detained, while a journalist from The Hindu and Pragya Mishra of Bharat Samachar were also detained. Several YouTubers and content creators were detained as well.

The locations named were RK Ashram, Connaught Place, and near Jantar Mantar. Nitin Katiyar was detained at the Connaught Place roundabout while covering a students’ march. The article does not provide a final combined total, so the number cannot be calculated reliably from the available details.

After being forced into buses or vans, journalists experienced different outcomes. Some remained in police custody temporarily. Others escaped when a police van stopped, and some were later released. The events mattered because the journalists said they were doing their professional work and had identified themselves as press.

A photojournalist said a van carrying seven to eight journalists stopped while barricades were being removed. The photojournalist and two others jumped out. Nitin Katiyar said police pushed him into a bus and punched him near the eyes after he protested. He showed cuts below his right eye.

The three Indian Express Hindi journalists were released at Chhatrasal Stadium. Their organisation also said Siya’s phone was seized. Pragya Mishra posted a video showing policewomen grabbing her during detention. Police had not responded by press time.

The journalists said their identification marked them as working media, not ordinary protesters. Press IDs, cameras, microphones, and valid credentials can show that a person is covering an event professionally. This distinction matters because reporting on a protest requires journalists to reach locations, observe events, and document what happens.

The photojournalist said the group displayed IDs and cameras and shouted that they were from the press. Nitin Katiyar said police detained him despite his valid media credentials. Indian Express Hindi said its three journalists told police they had come to do their job before being put into a bus.

Their argument was about access and professional protection, not an automatic exemption from every police instruction. Authorities may still control unsafe or restricted areas, but any action should recognize legitimate reporting and follow lawful procedures. The article says the Supreme Court had emphasized that professionals should not be impeded.

The Supreme Court’s stated position was that lawyers, journalists, and other professionals should not be impeded from carrying out their professional duties. In this context, the principle protects the ability of journalists to report events without unnecessary obstruction. It also highlights the tension between protest policing and public scrutiny.

The article describes journalists being detained despite showing press IDs, cameras, or media credentials. A photojournalist said reporters were dragged into vans at RK Ashram. Nitin Katiyar said he was detained at Connaught Place despite valid credentials. Three Indian Express Hindi journalists were also put into a bus while reporting.

The timing made the issue especially notable: the court’s statement and the reported detentions occurred on the same day. The article records no police response by press time. It therefore leaves unresolved how authorities explained the detentions and whether future protest-control measures would better protect professional reporting.

Police may need to manage crowds, remove barricades, and respond to risks during protests. But those powers are not unlimited. They should be used for a clear lawful purpose, with no more force or restriction than necessary. Freedom of the press and due process require authorities to distinguish reporters from participants and explain any detention.

The article describes journalists being detained at RK Ashram, Connaught Place, and other protest locations. Some said they showed IDs, cameras, or credentials. Nitin Katiyar alleged that police punched him after he protested, while another journalist’s phone was reportedly seized. These details show why safeguards and accountability matter.

A balanced approach would allow police to secure an area while creating safe access for verified media. If journalists are detained, authorities should record the reason, protect them from mistreatment, and release them when continued custody is unnecessary. The article says police had not responded, leaving these questions open.

Freedom of the press means journalists can investigate, document, and publish information without improper government interference. It does not mean every restriction disappears during a protest. It does mean that restrictions should have a lawful reason and should not be used to hide events from the public.

This article illustrates the issue through reporters covering demonstrations at RK Ashram, Connaught Place, and near Jantar Mantar. Journalists said police detained them despite IDs and credentials. Pragya Mishra wrote that authorities were stopping people who were showing the truth and preventing pictures from going out. Her post was itself an attempt to document the detention.

Independent reporting gives people information beyond official accounts. It can reveal competing claims, show how authorities act, and support public accountability. The article notes that police had not responded by press time. Continued reporting and clear official explanations would help the public assess what happened and whether professional duties were improperly obstructed.