Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Karnataka minister says police handling of Bengaluru protest will be reviewed
More than 100 people were detained in Bengaluru on October 12 as they tried to march to the office of Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer.
They were protesting the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls and alleging irregularities.
Some protesters called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, while police also manhandled journalists and photographers, according to the report.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the police response would be reviewed and instructed officers not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
He said peaceful protest is a democratic right and asked protesters to cooperate with police and inform authorities.
The MyVoteMyRight Campaign welcomed his statement but also urged Karnataka to withdraw a 2021 order that confines protests in Bengaluru to Freedom Park.
The review and the campaign’s demand are the next steps described; no outcome of the review was given.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the Bengaluru Police handling of protesters on October 12 would be reviewed.
He said he had instructed police not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
Police detained more than 100 people who tried to march to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office to protest the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The MyVoteMyRight Campaign welcomed the review but called for the government to withdraw a 2021 order restricting protests to Freedom Park.
- Who
- Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the police response would be reviewed.
- What
- Police detained more than 100 people during a protest march, and Kharge said the handling would be reviewed.
- When
- The protest took place on October 12, 2026; Kharge announced the review on October 13.
- Where
- Bengaluru, near K.R. Circle and on the planned march to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
- Why
- Protesters were opposing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities in the exercise.
MyVoteMyRight Campaign
Karnataka government
Protest rules
MyVoteMyRight Campaign
The campaign called for the government to withdraw the 2021 order restricting protests to Freedom Park.
Karnataka government
Kharge said police had been instructed not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
Alternative rules
MyVoteMyRight Campaign
The campaign called for the 2009 order, which did not restrict protests to one place, to be restored.
Karnataka government
Not stated.
Bengaluru Police detained more than 100 people trying to march to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
Kharge said the police handling of the protest would be reviewed and instructed police not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
- People detained
- More than 100
- Protest date
- October 12, 2026
- Review announced by
- Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Home Minister
- Protest location
- Near K.R. Circle, Bengaluru
- Campaign demand
- Withdraw the 2021 order restricting protests to Freedom Park
What people are saying
The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy. It must be respected, protected, and never suppressed.
I have issued instructions to the police to ensure that no peaceful demonstration is disrupted.
The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice.
Sources
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