Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Activists and student group allege police detentions ahead of Delhi protest
Mumbai activists and student delegates alleged police detained or tried to detain them on October 8 as they prepared to travel to Delhi.
The claims involve Mumbai Police and police in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, including an alleged detention of students near Itarsi.
The groups were travelling to a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, called by the Cockroach Janta Party and left groups.
The protest is seeking an end to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The activists said police released them on the condition they stay in Mumbai, while the student group said officers tried to remove its delegates from a train near Bhusawal without showing warrants.
The AISF said its students remained aboard the train, which was delayed and diverted, while another delegation was detained by Madhya Pradesh Police near Itarsi.
The allegations raise concerns about whether people could travel to join the protest, but Mumbai Police had not responded to questions at the time of publication.
Activists and members of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) alleged police detained or tried to detain people travelling to Delhi ahead of an October 10 protest.
A Mumbai activist said police detained Feroze Mithiborwala and Salim Saboowala on October 8 and released them on the condition that they stay in Mumbai.
AISF members said police attempted to detain and remove a student delegation from a train at Bhusawal, while another delegation was reported detained by Madhya Pradesh Police near Itarsi.
The protest, called by the Cockroach Janta Party and left groups, was planned to oppose the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and seek the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Hindu reported that Mumbai Police had not responded to its queries.
- Who
- Mumbai-based activists Feroze Mithiborwala and Salim Saboowala, and AISF student delegations.
- What
- They alleged that police detained or attempted to detain them as they travelled toward Delhi.
- When
- October 8, 2026, ahead of a protest scheduled for October 10.
- Where
- Mumbai and on the Goa Express near Bhusawal; another student delegation was reported detained near Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The activists and students were travelling to Delhi for a protest against the electoral-roll revision and calling for the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The activists were seen at a protest in Mumbai, according to Guddi.
Guddi alleged Mumbai Police detained Mithiborwala and Saboowala and released them on the condition that they stay in Mumbai.
AISF members alleged police attempted to detain and remove student delegates from the Goa Express at Bhusawal.
Another student delegation travelling from Pune to Delhi was reported detained by Madhya Pradesh Police near Itarsi.
The collective protest was scheduled to take place in Delhi.
- Planned protest
- October 10, 2026, in Delhi
- Mumbai activists
- Feroze Mithiborwala and Salim Saboowala
- Train
- 12779 Goa Express, travelling from Pune to New Delhi
- Police contingent at Bhusawal
- 8 to 10 personnel, according to AISF
- Protest demands
- Scrap the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
What people are saying
Mumbai Police illegally detained activists Feroze Mithiborwala and Salim Saboowala around 11 a.m., after putting media pressure they were released on the condition to stay in Mumbai
We had no plans to go to Delhi. Yet, such harassment is done at the hands of police. Besides, as a citizen we can move anywhere. How can police detain?
When the Goa Express reached Bhusawal, a police contingent comprising 8 to 10 personnel — led by Police Inspector Govind Pathak and Lady Police Officer Minal Tayade — barged into the train compartment and attempted to forcefully detain and deboard the AISF comrades without any legal basis
Posts on X
AISF students from Pune, travelling to Delhi for the Jantar Mantar protest, have been detained by Madhya Pradesh Police at Itarsi. The detention took place moments ago. We are currently trying to ascertain where the students are being taken and the grounds for their detention.