Protests Intensify in New Delhi as Activists Demand Election Chief's Resignation
Protesters Detained in New Delhi
Police detain activists of various student bodies amid continued demonstration at Connaught Place area, on Sunday. (Photo:PTI)
New Delhi, Oct 11: On Sunday, security forces apprehended numerous demonstrators, including CPI(M) MP John Brittas, as they marched from Connaught Place’s Inner Circle and Rajiv Chowk towards Jantar Mantar. This marked the second day of protests organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
Footage captured protesters advancing towards Jantar Mantar, chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with calls of “Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do” (Gyanesh Kumar, resign).
Law enforcement intervened to detain the demonstrators, with some being forcibly taken towards police buses when they resisted.
According to police reports, Brittas was among those taken into custody on Sunday, having also faced detention during the previous day's protests.
Protesters detained on Sunday claimed they were mistreated by security personnel.
Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other student groups were also apprehended while heading towards Jantar Mantar from Rajiv Chowk.
The SFI released a statement indicating that its All India president, Adarsh M Saji; Delhi state secretary, Sooraj Elamon; Central Executive Committee member, Abhijith Manilal; along with hundreds of their members, were attacked and detained at Rajiv Chowk.
“In the video, you can see blood coming out of Adarsh’s forehead. These incidents will not be forgotten. We will continue to protest. The demonstrations will expand across the nation!” the statement emphasized.
A video showed Saji questioning the police's actions, expressing confusion over what wrong the peaceful protesters had committed.
Another protester claimed that many individuals sustained injuries due to police “manhandling” and vowed to transform the entire national capital into a protest zone like Jantar Mantar.
The detentions followed the CJP's renewed call for protests at Jantar Mantar, despite police enforcing strict security measures. Over 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed throughout the city.
Security remained heightened in the area as authorities aimed to block protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.
On Saturday, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained amid a significant security crackdown in Delhi. More than 7,000 protesters were detained at various locations as police worked to prevent them from reaching Jantar Mantar.
Several opposition leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while trying to join the protests.
The CJP and various opposition parties are calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.