Protests in India demanding CEC's resignation, over 700 detained

Delhi Police detained more than 700 people from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas on Friday, October 2, centring protests against the Chief Election Commissioner. Among them were Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and members of various student organisations.

Officials said Section 144 was imposed in the area to prevent unauthorised gatherings. Additional police were also deployed for security. The news was reported by The Economic Times. Internet services were shut down at the protest site and surrounding areas.

Earlier, Delhi Police imposed restrictions centring a proposed protest against India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. An official said the restrictions were imposed on Friday, October 2.

Centring this protest, Delhi Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Under this section, gatherings, processions, protests, picketing and sit-ins of five or more people without prior permission have been banned.

At the same time, restrictions were also imposed on chanting slogans and public speeches.

Members of various political parties and student organisations have been protesting demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and the removal of many voters' names. Members of the All India Students Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) were also among the protesters.

Police said no permission was taken for the protest. For this reason, about 700 protesters were detained from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.

Police sources said around 11am, about 700 SFI members who were trying to go to Jantar Mantar were stopped at a roundabout on Ashoka Road. Later, police detained many of them.

A senior official said police also stopped AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh from going towards the protest site in the North Avenue area. Police said AAP leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Atishi were among those detained. Additionally, several workers of various student organisations, including AISA, SFI and NSUI, were also detained.

Security was increased at Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas to stop protesters from reaching there. Alongside additional police deployment, barricades were set up at various places. Several protesters tried to cross barricades on Firoz Shah Road. At that time, police stopped them from going towards Jantar Mantar.

Police members repeatedly appealed through loudspeakers for people not to go to Jantar Mantar. They said no permission had been given for any kind of gathering there. Police said the protesters were detained to prevent unauthorised gatherings. Meanwhile, Delhi Metro temporarily stopped passengers from entering and exiting several stations in central Delhi due to the strengthening of security arrangements centring the protest.