Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Police detain at least 100 protesters in Bengaluru over voter roll revision
At least 100 people were detained in Bengaluru during a protest against the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
The protesters, including students, lawyers and women, had gathered near the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office to submit a memorandum.
They object to the revision, saying it could lead to voting rights being denied and names being removed from voter rolls without proper safeguards.
The protesters also called for election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign and for the SIR to be scrapped.
Police said the gathering was not authorised and that protesters were taken into preventive custody after refusing to move to Freedom Park, the designated protest site; they were later released.
Protest organisers said they would continue demonstrating until Kumar resigns.
Bengaluru police detained at least 100 protesters who tried to march to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
The protesters opposed the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and condemned the Delhi Police’s treatment of SIR demonstrators.
They had assembled near K.R. Circle and planned to submit a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Police said the gathering lacked permission and was outside the designated protest site, Freedom Park.
The protesters called for the SIR to be scrapped, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and the January 2025 electoral rolls to be restored.
- Who
- Left student and youth organisations and their supporters, including students, lawyers and women protesters.
- What
- Police detained at least 100 people who tried to march to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The protesters opposed the SIR and demanded its cancellation.
- When
- Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Near K.R. Circle in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- The protesters opposed the SIR, citing alleged irregularities and risks to voting rights, and condemned the Delhi Police’s treatment of SIR demonstrators.
Protesters
Bengaluru City Police
Protest location
Protesters
Protesters assembled near K.R. Circle to march to the CEO’s office and submit a memorandum.
Bengaluru City Police
Police said Freedom Park was the designated protest site and the gathering near K.R. Circle lacked permission or prior notice.
Detentions
Protesters
Protesters sought to demonstrate against the SIR and what they said were irregularities in the exercise.
Bengaluru City Police
Police said they took the protesters into preventive custody after they did not move to Freedom Park.
Protesters assembled near K.R. Circle and planned to march to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
Police asked the protesters to move to Freedom Park, then detained them after they did not comply.
Police said the protesters were subsequently released.
- Detained
- At least 100 people
- Protest site
- Near K.R. Circle, Bengaluru
- Designated protest venue
- Freedom Park
- Protest target
- Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office
- Demand
- Scrap the SIR and restore the January 2025 electoral rolls
What people are saying
a group of protesters assembled near K.R. Circle, without permission or prior intimation.
Initially, they were requested to relocate to Freedom Park, but they did not comply and hence, were taken into preventive custody in accordance with law, and subsequently released,
Sources
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