A protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was held in Delhi on Friday, October 2.
Protesters Gather in Central Delhi
Opposition leaders, political workers, student groups and civil society activists gathered around Jantar Mantar and nearby areas. Protesters were seeking Kumar’s resignation and raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the voter-roll revision process.
Police Detain Protesters
Delhi Police detained hundreds of demonstrators as authorities had sealed Jantar Mantar and imposed restrictions on gatherings in the area. Reports put the number of people detained at several hundred, with one police account citing around 550 and another report putting the figure close to 1,000.
Political Leaders Among Those Detained
Several opposition figures and activists were also detained, including former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and AISA president Neha Bora.
Police Cite Restrictions
Police said the protest did not have the required permission and cited prohibitory orders while carrying out the detentions. Those detained were later released, according to reports.
The demonstration is part of the wider political dispute over the Election Commission, electoral-roll revision and demands for greater transparency in the process.