Hundreds Detained at Delhi Protests Demanding Chief Election Commissioner's Resignation

Delhi Police detained more than 500 protesters on Friday during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll irregularities.

Detentions And Clashes

AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha, Atishi, and Sanjay Singh were among those picked up by police. Police officials stated that around 700 people from the Student Federation of India tried to reach the protest site and were stopped at the Ashoka Road roundabout. An initial police estimate put the number of detainees at around 150 before it rose to over 500. Protesters also crossed barricades at Firoz Shah Road, while Sanjay Singh was stopped separately at North Avenue.

Restrictions And Outcry

Authorities suspended internet services around the protest site and closed entry and exit gates at 12 metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, and Jantar Mantar. SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh criticized the police action and the protection of the CEC. In a video message, Bharadwaj questioned why protest permission was required at a designated demonstration venue and urged supporters to walk to the site from open metro stations.

Context

Jantar Mantar is a historic and officially designated site for public demonstrations in New Delhi, frequently used by political parties, student groups, and activists to voice grievances against government policies. Public demonstrations in the national capital often involve heavy police deployments, preventive detentions, and temporary disruptions to public transport and communication networks to maintain law and order.