1 hr ago
Delhi Police Detain Nearly 1,000 During Election Roll Protest
Nearly 1,000 people were detained during a protest near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The protesters wanted the chief election official to resign.
They were concerned about alleged problems with changes to voter lists and the removal of voters’ names.
Police said the gathering had not been approved and that restrictions were in place.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to manage security.
Police used barricades, buses and drones during the operation.
Some people were later released.
Officials said there were minor scuffles and were checking videos that appeared to show police hitting protesters.
Delhi Police detained nearly 1,000 protesters at and around Jantar Mantar; several were later released.
The protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revisions and voter deletions.
Police said the protest had not been permitted and imposed restrictions on assemblies, processions, sit-ins and sloganeering in the area.
About 5,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, with barricades, drones and buses used during security operations.
Authorities reported minor scuffles and injuries to some police personnel; they said social-media videos allegedly showing assaults were being verified.
- Who
- Delhi Police detained nearly 1,000 protesters, including political leaders, students, activists and civil society members.
- What
- A protest calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation was met with mass detentions and extensive security measures.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas in New Delhi, including locations around Kerala House and Ashoka Road.
- When
- Friday, October 2; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- Protesters cited alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revisions and mass voter deletions; police said restrictions were imposed for security and crowd-management concerns.
Protesters’ concerns
Police and security rationale
Reason for the protest
Protesters’ concerns
Protesters demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revisions and mass deletion of voters.
Police and security rationale
Police said the gathering had not been permitted and that restrictions were imposed because of security and crowd-management concerns.
Police conduct
Protesters’ concerns
Videos allegedly showing police personnel assaulting protesters circulated on social media.
Police and security rationale
Officials said the videos’ authenticity, the identities of the personnel and the locations shown were being verified.
Key facts
- Detentions
- Nearly 1,000 people; police initially reported more than 700.
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar and nearby areas in New Delhi.
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Security deployment
- Around 5,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel.
- Expected crowd
- Police sources said they had inputs indicating 4,000 to 5,000 people might gather.
- Legal restriction
- Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed, prohibiting unauthorised assemblies and related activities in the area.
- Reported incidents
- Minor scuffles occurred; police sources said some officers suffered minor injuries.
- Video review
- Officials said they were verifying the authenticity, personnel and locations in videos allegedly showing police assaulting protesters.
Sources
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