1 hr ago
Ahmedabad Police Detain 100 at Protest Against SIR
People gathered in Ahmedabad on Saturday to protest changes to voter lists called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
The protest was planned outside MJ Library on Ashram Road.
Police said the protest did not have permission and sent about 250 officers to the area.
They detained at least 100 people, including elderly protesters.
Organisers said police had stopped some people from gathering before the protest began.
One protester climbed onto a police bus and shouted slogans before officers brought him down.
An advocate said the protest was peaceful and that officials had raised traffic and public-order concerns.
The report says organisers believe SIR has led to voter deletions and loss of access to basic services for some people.
Police detained at least 100 people at an Ahmedabad protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.
The demonstration began outside MJ Library on Ashram Road around 6:30 p.m. Saturday; police deployed about 250 personnel.
Those detained included elderly participants and author-activist Prakash N. Shah; the article gives his age as both 86 and 87.
Organisers said police had detained activists before the protest and prevented people from gathering; one protester climbed onto a police bus and shouted slogans.
Police said the protest had not been permitted; an advocate said organisers were denied permission over claimed law-and-order or traffic concerns.
- Who
- Activists, students, social workers and other citizens; police detained at least 100 people.
- What
- A protest against the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and its effects.
- Where
- Outside MJ Library on Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, India.
- When
- Saturday evening, beginning around 6:30 p.m.; the article does not specify a date.
- Why
- Organisers said they were protesting SIR-related voter deletions and alleged deprivation of basic state services.
Organisers and Protesters
Police and Permission Concerns
Right to protest and conduct of demonstration
Organisers and Protesters
Organisers and an advocate described the demonstration as peaceful and said students and others were being prevented from exercising their right to protest.
Police and Permission Concerns
DCP Shivam Varma said the protest did not have police permission; the advocate said officials cited possible law-and-order or traffic concerns.
Effects of SIR
Organisers and Protesters
Organiser Swati Goswami said Gujarat had a high number of voter deletions under SIR and that some people had lost access to basic state services.
Police and Permission Concerns
The article gives no direct response from police or election officials to these claims.
Key facts
- Detained
- At least 100 people
- Police deployment
- Around 250 personnel
- Start time
- About 6:30 p.m. Saturday
- Protest location
- Outside MJ Library, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad
- Protest issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls
- Permission
- DCP Shivam Varma said the protest had not received police permission.
- Age discrepancy
- Prakash N. Shah is described as 86 in the report, while an organiser refers to an 87-year-old detainee.
Quotes
Swati Goswami
Activist and one of the protest organisers
“This would have been the biggest urban protest had 100 vehicles and a large number of cops not dismantled the jan andolan before we all could gather. An 87-year-old man is among those detained with us.”
indianexpress.com
“We carried out a peaceful protest. However, we were denied permission… With the police claiming that there would be a law and order or traffic situation.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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