57 mins ago
Left Leaders Detained as Students Announce Hunger Strike
Left-wing leaders and students tried to join a protest in New Delhi.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The protest was about alleged problems with a process to revise voter lists.
Police detained many people as they tried to reach the protest.
Some students were held at Nangloi Stadium.
A lawmaker and student activists there announced a hunger strike.
The CPI(M) said police treated protesters roughly and stopped people from exercising their right to protest.
The party called for the detainees to be released and the voter-list revision to stop.
Several Left leaders, including Pinarayi Vijayan, Manik Sarkar, M A Baby and Brinda Karat, were detained while trying to reach a protest in New Delhi.
The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision.
Police detained students and activists at several locations amid heavy security and restrictions on demonstrations.
Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim and detained SFI activists announced a hunger strike at Nangloi Stadium.
The CPI(M) alleged police manhandled protesters and restricted the right to demonstrate; it demanded Kumar's removal, a halt to the revision and the release of detainees.
- Who
- Left leaders, student activists and other protesters; police detained several, including Pinarayi Vijayan, Manik Sarkar, M A Baby and Brinda Karat.
- What
- Detentions took place amid a protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; detained students and A A Rahim announced a hunger strike.
- Where
- New Delhi, including areas near Kerala Bhawan, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana and Nangloi Stadium.
- When
- Saturday, October 10; the report does not specify a year.
- Why
- Protesters sought Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Protesters and CPI(M)
Police and authorities
Detentions and protest access
Protesters and CPI(M)
The CPI(M) said authorities turned New Delhi into a fortress, detained people trying to reach the protest and denied permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar.
Police and authorities
The report describes police detentions and security restrictions but does not include a response from police or authorities.
Police conduct
Protesters and CPI(M)
The CPI(M) alleged that police manhandled protesters, causing injuries; students also sought action over an inspector's alleged misconduct.
Police and authorities
The report does not provide a police account of the alleged conduct.
Key facts
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Issue cited
- Alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Detention site
- Around 300 students were detained at Nangloi Stadium, according to the report
- Hunger strike
- Announced by Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim and detained SFI activists
- Additional protest demands
- Action against and an apology from a Delhi Police inspector, and return of phones and bags protesters said police had taken
- CPI(M) demands
- Kumar's removal, a halt to the SIR exercise and release of detained protesters
Quotes
Pinarayi Vijayan
Former Kerala chief minister and detained Left leader
“The movement to save democracy and for the neutrality of State institutions such as the ECI will continue.”
theprint.in
“Such high-handed tactics are a blatant attack on our democratic rights, but we will not be intimidated.”
theprint.in
Sources
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