Hundreds Detained During Jantar Mantar Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi: Hundreds of people were detained in and around Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday after demonstrators gathered to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raise concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police said around 550 people were detained during the day. Police maintained that the action was taken because the protest had not been permitted at the site and prohibitory orders were in force in the area. All those detained were subsequently released, according to police.

The protest was organised with the participation of opposition parties and student groups, who have criticised the Election Commission’s handling of the electoral-roll revision exercise. Demonstrators also called for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Police restrictions around Jantar Mantar

Authorities had deployed barricades and police personnel around routes leading to Jantar Mantar before protesters began assembling. Notices displayed in the area stated that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was in force and prohibited unlawful gatherings.

Police buses repeatedly entered the area through barricaded points near Tolstoy Marg and Janpath to take detained protesters away. Police denied allegations of manhandling during the operation.

Mobile internet services in the area were also suspended, while entry and exit at 12 metro stations in central Delhi were temporarily restricted as part of measures to prevent large groups from reaching the protest venue.

Police said cases were being registered over alleged violations of the prohibitory orders.

Opposition leaders and students among those detained

Several opposition leaders were detained during the protest, including CPM leaders Brinda Karat and M A Baby, AAP leader Atishi and JDU leader Manoj Jha.

Student groups also attempted to reach the protest site despite the restrictions. Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), reached Jantar Mantar around noon, following which police and protesters were involved in repeated confrontations over her detention.

According to PhD student Deepanita, who was also detained, protesters gathered a short distance from the site and attempted to prevent Bora from being taken away in a police vehicle.

Protest linked to electoral-roll revision

The demonstration was announced for Gandhi Jayanti amid continuing political disagreement over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

According to the report, more than 47 lakh names were removed from Delhi’s electoral rolls during the SIR process, while another 33 lakh people received notices seeking explanations regarding what the authorities described as “logical discrepancies” in electoral records.

The Election Commission has said that people whose names are absent from the draft electoral rolls can apply as new voters by submitting the required documents.

The Election Commission has also denied reports of internal differences among its members over key decisions.

Students vow to continue protest

Despite the large-scale detentions, a smaller group of students gathered near Tolstoy Marg later in the afternoon.

AISA members said the restrictions and detentions had not ended their opposition to the electoral-roll revision process. In a video message released later in the evening, Neha Bora said the protest would continue and appealed to people to gather at Jantar Mantar at 1 pm on Saturday.

The day’s demonstration ended with all detained protesters being released, while police continued to register cases over alleged violations of prohibitory orders.

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