Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Bangla Sahib Police Video Sparks Row Over Protesters’ Shelter
People planned to protest in Delhi about alleged problems with voter lists.
Police did not allow the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar and detained protesters around the city.
Some protesters went to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, a Sikh place of worship, for shelter.
A video showed police officers wearing shoes in a passage there.
Some politicians said the police disrespected the shrine, while police said the passage leads to the place where visitors take off their shoes.
Gurdwara committee chief Harmeet Singh Kalka said protesters brought signs, shouted slogans and tried to enter a hall.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also criticized the police.
The reports gave different numbers for detentions: more than 2,000 and more than 7,000.
The Election Commission and BJP deny wrongdoing in the voter-list exercise.
Protesters seeking shelter at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib amid a police operation against a planned Jantar Mantar demonstration were at the center of a dispute.
A viral video showed some police personnel wearing shoes in a passage on the gurdwara premises, prompting allegations that they disregarded Sikh customs.
Delhi Police said the passage leads to the place where visitors remove their shoes, and alleged the video was circulated with malicious intent; it said legal action would be initiated.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the alleged police entry, while gurdwara committee chief Harmeet Singh Kalka said protesters brought placards, raised slogans and tried to enter the hall.
Reports differed on detentions: one said more than 2,000 protesters were detained, while another said more than 7,000 were detained during the CJP protest over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
- Who
- Protesters, Delhi Police, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Harmeet Singh Kalka.
- What
- A dispute over a viral video of police in a passage at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where protesters had sought shelter during a police operation.
- When
- Saturday; Bhagwant Mann condemned the alleged entry on Sunday.
- Where
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Why
- The protesters were demonstrating against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Criticism of Police Conduct
Police and Gurdwara Committee Response
Police presence and religious customs
Criticism of Police Conduct
Bhagwant Mann and opposition figures condemned the alleged entry, saying officers wore shoes and, according to some critics, did not cover their heads. Mann said the alleged conduct violated the shrine’s sanctity.
Police and Gurdwara Committee Response
Delhi Police said the officers were in a common passage before the shoe-removal point and alleged the video was circulated to outrage religious feelings. Its explanation did not specifically address the head-covering allegation.
Protesters seeking shelter
Criticism of Police Conduct
Mann and other opposition figures said the gurdwara should provide shelter to people in need and that protesters had sought refuge there.
Police and Gurdwara Committee Response
Harmeet Singh Kalka said protesters brought placards, raised slogans and tried to force their way into a hall, arguing that the gurdwara should not be used as a political protest venue.
Police response to the wider protest
Criticism of Police Conduct
Opposition leaders criticized police actions connected to the protest and the incident at the gurdwara.
Police and Gurdwara Committee Response
Manjinder Singh Sirsa praised police restraint and said their response prevented violence; Delhi Police had denied permission for the planned Jantar Mantar gathering.
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Gurdwara
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
- Protest organizer
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
- Protest target
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Police explanation
- The video showed a common passage leading to the point where visitors remove their shoes.
- Detention figures
- One report said more than 2,000 protesters were detained; another said more than 7,000.
- Police response
- Delhi Police alleged the video was circulated with malicious intent and said it would initiate legal action.
- Electoral-roll allegations
- The Election Commission and BJP denied allegations of wrongdoing in the voter-list exercise.
