Politics · India · 1 hr ago
UN experts urge India to stop excessive force against protesters
UN experts urged Indian authorities to stop excessive force against protesters and investigate police conduct.
The protests, led by student groups and opposition parties, have taken place in Delhi and elsewhere in India.
Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a revision of voter lists.
Protest groups say 130 million names were removed, disproportionately affecting poor people and minorities; the Election Commission says it is removing ineligible entries and allows appeals for people excluded by mistake.
The BJP and the Election Commission deny that the revision manipulates the rolls.
UN experts cited reports of injuries, detentions, restrictions on peaceful gatherings and gender-based abuse, and said unarmed students faced force.
They called for an independent investigation and an end to broad bans and internet disruptions; India has previously dismissed UN criticism as interference in its internal affairs.
UN experts urged India to stop what they called excessive force against protesters and to investigate authorities’ conduct.
The experts said unarmed students faced force, including baton charges, and that demonstrators were injured or reported ill-treatment.
They called for blanket assembly bans to be lifted and for authorities to avoid misuse of digital surveillance and internet disruptions.
Protests led by student groups and opposition parties have demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over a voter-list revision.
The Election Commission and the BJP deny accusations that the revision unfairly affected voters.
- Who
- UN experts called on the Indian government and authorities to act. Student groups and opposition parties have led the protests.
- What
- The experts urged authorities to stop excessive force, investigate their conduct and lift blanket assembly bans.
- When
- The statement was issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The protests and reported crackdown took place in India, including in Delhi.
- Why
- Protesters oppose a voter-list revision and say it unfairly removed eligible voters; they are also demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Protesting groups
Indian government, BJP and Election Commission
Voter-list revision
Protesting groups
Protesters say eligible voters were removed and that poor, homeless people and ethnic minorities were disproportionately affected.
Indian government, BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and Election Commission deny manipulation; the Commission says it removed duplicate, deceased, shifted and otherwise ineligible voters.
Police response
Protesting groups
UN experts and protesters describe force against unarmed demonstrators, injuries and ill-treatment.
Indian government, BJP and Election Commission
The government’s response to the experts’ latest statement was not immediately available; India has previously called UN criticism interference in its internal affairs.
The UN human rights office expressed concern about reports of mass detentions at Delhi protests, and the Indian government rejected its statement.
Police detained thousands of protesters in the national capital, including journalists, youth organization members and minors.
UN experts called for an independent investigation and urged Indian authorities to stop excessive force against protesters.
- People affected by voter-list revision
- 130 million names, according to reports cited by the articles
- Detentions
- More than 7,000 people, according to UN experts cited by Hindustan Times
- Delhi detentions
- More than 2,000 people reportedly detained on October 10
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- UN statement
- Issued Tuesday, October 20, 2026
4 sources
UN experts slam India’s ‘heavy-handed’ crackdown on youth-led protests
UN experts call on India to stop using 'excessive force' against protesters
UN experts urge Indian authorities to cease 'use of excessive force' to curb protests
UN experts urge India to curb force against unarmed student protesters
What people are saying
We call on the authorities to immediately cease the use of excessive force, rescind blanket assembly bans, and refrain from the misuse of digital surveillance, including through biometrics, and internet disruptions
This crackdown reflects a broader, troubling pattern
We were put inside a prison-looking van, beaten up, and taken to a detention centre. Women protesters were abused verbally and held by the neck by the police.