Delhi Police detain about 100 protesters near Connaught Place despite top court order

Protests and Detentions

Delhi Police kept detaining people around Connaught Place on Sunday as crowds gathered again to protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Officers put about one hundred individuals into two buses and cleared them from the location. A video showed police pulling a man out of a burger joint because they suspected he was part of the demonstration, though officers released him after he explained he was only standing there. Authorities also parked several empty transport buses near the RK Ashram metro station to handle the growing crowds.

Court Directions

Earlier on Sunday, a special bench consisting of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana ruled that peaceful and unarmed citizens cannot be detained unless authorities follow the proper legal process. The bench issued these instructions following an urgent hearing on petitions that pointed out mass detentions, movement curbs, internet cuts, and violations of an October ninth order regarding transport restrictions. The judges ordered normal metro and train operations, uninterrupted internet service, and the removal of a notice that had placed ban restrictions around the Supreme Court and other judicial complexes to guarantee open access to justice.

Statements and FIRs

Among those taken into custody was CPI(M) leader John Brittas, who called the police actions a clear violation of basic norms and accused officers of using brutal force against peaceful demonstrators. He also questioned the rush to board an aircraft and detain Abhijit Dipke and others, calling it a breach of civil aviation rules. An anonymous detained bystander defended the protesters, noting that gathering peacefully is a fundamental right. Meanwhile, senior police officers stated that more than twenty FIRs have been filed over attempts to stage Saturday's protest despite official bans, along with cases alleging attacks on police personnel and attempts to disrupt public order.

Context

High-profile public demonstrations in the national capital frequently lead to heavy security deployments, transport blocks, and sudden clashes between law enforcement and political activists. When police actions face immediate legal challenges, courts often step in to balance public order requirements with the constitutional rights of citizens to gather and express their views freely.