Nearly 1,000 Detained During Jantar Mantar Protest Seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
Nearly 1,000 protesters were detained in Delhi during demonstrations around Jantar Mantar demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over concerns and allegations related to the SIR of electoral rolls. Police had not granted permission for the protest and deployed around 5,000 police and paramilitary personnel. Several opposition politicians, student leaders and activists were among those detained. Protests continued for a second day on October 3.
New Delhi: Nearly 1,000 people were detained by Delhi Police on Friday during demonstrations in and around Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters included opposition leaders, student organisations and civil-society activists.
The demonstrators raised objections over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities and mass deletion of voters. These were allegations raised by the protesters; the Election Commission has defended the voter-verification exercise as necessary for maintaining accurate electoral rolls.
Protest Held Without Police Permission
Delhi Police had not granted permission for the demonstration, while prohibitory orders were in force in the New Delhi district.
Around 5,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel, including more than 10 companies of paramilitary forces, were deployed across the Lutyens’ Delhi area and surrounding locations. Barricades were installed on roads leading towards Jantar Mantar as authorities attempted to prevent large groups from assembling.
Police initially reported more than 500 detentions, with the number later rising as demonstrations continued at multiple locations. Subsequent reports put the total at nearly 1,000.
Atishi, Sanjay Singh, Yogendra Yadav Among Those Detained
Among those detained were AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, Jarnail Singh and Sanjeev Jha, AISA national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, RJD MP Manoj Jha, Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar and other political and student leaders.
Those detained were taken to different police stations across Delhi. Several protesters were subsequently released.
Drones, Barricades and Heavy Security Deployment
Police used drones to monitor crowded and sensitive locations, while additional personnel were deployed when groups of protesters began gathering at particular points.
Police sources said authorities had received information suggesting that around 4,000 to 5,000 people could attempt to gather, prompting extensive security arrangements.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was invoked to restrict unauthorised assemblies, processions, sit-ins and sloganeering in the affected area.
Traffic restrictions and diversions were also introduced around parts of central Delhi as part of the security arrangements.
Protest Continued for Second Day
The demonstrations did not end with Friday’s detentions. Protesters returned on Saturday, October 3, and police again detained participants attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar, including Neha Bora and Yogendra Yadav.
The continuing demonstrations centre on demands concerning the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revision and calls for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.