New Delhi: Five press bodies – the Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Association and Kerala Union of Journalists – have called for the registration of a first information report (FIR) against Delhi police assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat over allegations of sexual assault against three women journalists during the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar.The press bodies, on Wednesday (October 7), also called for an “impartial judicial inquiry” in the charges against the officer.In a memorandum to Delhi police commissioner Anurag Kumar, the organisations said no FIR had been registered against Bhagat despite widespread protests demanding action, including a sit-in outside the Parliament Street police station that had resulted in the arrest of 17 students and activists last week.“We wish to draw our attention to the fact that no FIR has yet been registered against Shri Vivek Bhagat, ACP, for his alleged sexual assault on three women journalists on October 3 at the protest site. This is a clear violation of the law that holds that the police are duty bound to register an FIR immediately on a complaint,” the memorandum read, according to The Hindu.They described the police’s failure in registering a prompt FIR after the complaint as a “clear violation of the law” and emphasised the need for allowing the press to do their jobs even when protests become tenuous or volatile.“As you are well aware, it is a reporter’s job to be present on the ground, no matter how difficult or disturbing the situation is. And it is the duty of the police force stationed there to ensure that the press is allowed to do their job. Instead there is heavy handedness and even brutality in dealing with journalists. This is unacceptable,” the memorandum said.According to the Hindu report, while talking about the heavy handedness and brutality experienced by journalists during the ongoing protests against the chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the press bodies said, “it is unacceptable.”The also impressed upon the vital work done by independent journalists who report through digital media platforms, such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, in serving as an indispensable source of news and public commentary. The memorandum said the absence of a formal accreditation should not prevent such journalists from reporting on current events.“Not all of these journalists, many of them women, have formal accreditation. Yet they should not be denied their right to report through writing, video, or photography due to unreasonable restrictions imposed by the police,” the statement read.The press bodies’ memorandum comes amid growing controversy over the state’s handling of complaints against Bhagat. Even though the police claims that the matter has been furthered for inquiry, no formal FIR has been lodged against the officer.Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have taken a 24-year-old independent journalist into custody on Monday (October 5) for allegedly circulating an AI-generated video depicting Bhagat sexually assaulting a woman during the October 3 protest.