Page 6 - Protest

UN raises concerns over mass detentions during protests in Delhi

The UN human rights office has raised concerns over mass detentions during large-scale protests in Delhi on Saturday, as it urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and called for the immediate release of anyone arbitrarily detained. Hundreds of protesters were detained as security forces prevented a planned demonstration by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from reaching Jantar Mantar in central Delhi. The protest was called to demand electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulation of voter lists. The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have denied the allegations. In a statement on Saturday, UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the office was "concerned by reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists, before and during today's large-scale ...

Delhi protests: SC to hear contempt plea against authorities on Sunday

The Supreme Court will hear on Sunday a plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against authorities for alleged blatant violation of the court's direction to ensure no complete prohibition on metro and trains services in Delhi due to the CJP protest. According to the cause list of October 11 uploaded on the apex court website, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has arrayed Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D Thara as respondents. "This brutal assault on the fundamental rights of the citizens and sheer disregard to the orders of this court amounts to deliberate, intentional attempt on the part of Delhi Metro, Delhi Police and the Union government which must be dealt with an iron hand," the plea, filed through advocate Chand Qureshi, said. The petition referred to the top court's ...

Tushar Gandhi, actor Imran Khan among 400 detained in Mumbai protests

Police on Saturday detained around 400 people, including actor Imran Khan, activist Tushar Gandhi, and CPI (M) workers among others, from various locations in Mumbai for protesting without permission in solidarity with the Cockroach Janata Party's demonstration in New Delhi. The demonstrations were held at the August Kranti Maidan, Hutatma Chowk, and other locations. At Hutatma Chowk, several workers of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) protested. Hundreds of people, including those belonging to Tushar Gandhi-led 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' organisation, and activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) assembled at the August Kranti Maidan without permission, and around 200 of them were detained for protesting, a police official said. The process of registering an FIR against them was underway, he said. "Overall, around 400 people were detained from various sports," the official said. One of the protesters, Rubaid Bhojani, alleged that the police took the prote

CJP protest: Over 7,000 detained as Delhi Police cracks down on protesters

Delhi Police on Saturday detained more than 3,000 protesters, who were trying to reach Jantar Mantar for the proposed CJP stir against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Sources said the protesters were detained across the New Delhi area and other districts, where police are using drones to monitor movement of people attempting to reach the protest site. The protesters were detained from several places, including near Regal Cinema, Minto Bridge and near Akashwani Bhawan. Ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, police sources said over 600 people with criminal records were also detained across all the districts of the national capital as part of preventive measures. The preventive action is aimed at ensuring that people with criminal backgrounds do not create a law-and-order situation during the proposed demonstration, the sources said. Police are also keeping a close watch on the movements of certain people, who could mobilise crowds o

Delhi protests: Six police personnel injured as 1,000 protesters detained

Six Delhi Police personnel, including a female member of the Pink Force, sustained injuries during the detention of around 1,000 protesters in different parts of New Delhi district on Saturday, with instances of stones being hurled at the security personnel at at least two places, an officer said. The injured personnel were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, the officer said, adding that the circumstances in which they were injured are being ascertained. Suman, a member of the Pink Force, told PTI that her finger got fractured while she was detaining protesters near the Hanuman temple at Commaught Place. "A protest was taking place near the Hanuman temple, where a crowd of around 100 to 150 people had gathered. We detained the protesters, during which some women twisted my finger, resulting in a fracture," she said. She added that the women were detained. "But I cannot identify who specifically twisted my finger as it is difficult to pinpoint an individual in a large crowd.

Wangchuk calls detentions in Delhi an 'undeclared emergency', warns of stir

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday described the situation in the country as an "undeclared emergency" after authorities detained several opposition leaders, student activists, lawyers and journalists in Delhi amid sweeping restrictions ahead of a protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Wangchuk, who had appealed for peace and unity ahead of the demonstration, condemned the detentions and said he would consider launching a peaceful protest, including a hunger strike or a march in Leh or Delhi, if those detained were not released within 24 hours. "A few moments ago, I learned that student leaders, youth leaders, lawyers, journalists, and even MPs have been arrested in Delhi today," he said in a video message posted on X. "Yesterday, when I gave you a message to maintain peace and unity in today's demonstrations, I believed that a peaceful demonstration would be allowed in the world's largest ..

Delhi Metro extends closure of 45 stations till 10 pm amid protest

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday extended the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 metro stations by four hours till 10 pm amid security arrangements for the CJP protest in the national capital. The stations, which were earlier scheduled to reopen at 6 pm, will continue to remain closed till 10 pm on Saturday, the DMRC said in a revised service update. The situation will be reviewed by security agencies and further updates will be shared accordingly, it said. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had called for a demonstration to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, accusing him of masterminding voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and other irregularities related to Form 6, used for voter registration. The restrictions were initially imposed from 9 pm on Friday for security reasons ahead of the protest. On Friday, the DMRC had revised its earlier advisory, reducing the number of ..

CJP protest a 'flop show', victory of democracy over mobocracy: BJP

The protest meant to take the city "hostage" turned out to be a "flop show", BJP leader Sambit Patra said on Saturday, even as he accused Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of spreading anarchy in cahoots with foreign powers. It was a victory of democracy over the mobocracy, Patra said, after hundreds of youths and several politicians who headed to the Jantar Mantar protest site were detained by the police. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Patra called Gandhi a "nalayak" leader, condemning his Friday remarks that President Droupadi Murmu did not deny the INDIA bloc's "vote chori" allegation at a meeting. "What is happening at Jantar Mantar and what is being shown on TV and across various social media handles does not represent the true story of India. India is peaceful, and India is moving forward with good governance," Patra said He alleged that there was an attempt to hold the national capital and the whole of India hostage through the ...

CJP protest: Kejriwal, Mamata, Pinarayi Vijayan, and other leaders detained

Earlier today, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi airport, while YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was placed under house arrest in Gurugram

GenZ deserves better than 'undeclared Emer-GenZ': Tharoor slams govt action

Hitting out at the Modi government, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday claimed that Delhi is witnessing a "war-like deployment", and said "our GenZ deserves better than an undeclared Emer-GenZ". He said the government should provide answers, not lathis; expression, not repression. Tharoor, who was in Berlin this week, said he returned to the national capital after 2 am and has rarely seen anything like what Delhi is witnessing now. "Checkpoints every few hundred metres, concrete barriers and spike strips laid across our roads, a "war-like" deployment of 22,000 police and paramilitary across the city, 250 trains cancelled and 45 metro stations closed, and reports of young people being detained from their own homes and the streets in and around Delhi -- all to prevent citizens from peacefully raising questions about the integrity of our elections," he said on X. "Most regressive (as well as repressive) is the suspension of the internet in the heart of the national capital," t

AAP holds protest in Chandigarh over 'vote chori', Sisodia, others detained

Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday held a protest here against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged 'vote chori' (vote theft) and lashed out at the BJP-led Centre for detaining protesters ahead of the proposed demonstration by Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. AAP workers and leaders, led by AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, held a demonstration against the BJP-led Centre near the office of the Punjab chief electoral officer here. Several leaders, including Sisodia, Baltej Punia and Sonia Mann, were later detained by the Chandigarh Police. The protesters held placards bearing messages such as 'Vote Chhor Gaddi Chhor' and 'Loktantar Bachao' and raised slogans against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. A heavy police force was deployed, and barricades were erected in the wake of AAP's protest. Earlier, addressing a gathering here, Sisodia slammed the BJP-led Union governme

CJP protest: Plea seeks contempt action over alleged SC order violation

A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the authorities alleging violation of the apex court's direction to ensure no complete prohibition of movement of metro and trains operated by Indian Railways here on October 10 due to the CJP protest. The petition, filed by Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has arrayed Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other as party respondents. The plea alleged that authorities have continued with the closure of metro stations in the national capital despite the top court's October 9 direction. It said these restrictions have crippled public life and caused hardships to the public. The petition has referred to the apex court's October 9 order, which was passed while hearing a separate petition against the closure of 57 metro stations and cancellation of trains to Delhi in view of the protest. The protest call has been given by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyan

Over 500 detained, 2 cops injured in stone-pelting near Akashwani Bhawan

Protesters allegedly stone-pelted security personnel at Imtiaz Ali Marg near Akashwani Bhawan after toppling barricades during the proposed Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) stir against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital on Saturday, officials said. Around noon, 25 to 30 protesters jumped barricades on Imtiaz Ali Marg and stone-pelleted at security personnel, they said, adding that some of them have been detained and two police personnel were injured in the process. Police have detained about 500 people as protesters attempted to reach Jantar Mantar despite authorities denying permission to protest and enforcing strict security measures across the New Delhi district. Several protesters were chased and detained as they tried to regroup at different locations and evade the security cordon. The protest was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am, but police and paramilitary personnel prevented participants from reaching the designated area, where prohibitory orders ar

Activists allege detention in Ahmedabad ahead of CJP protest in Delhi

Political and social activists, including those associated with the youth wings of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, have alleged detention or house arrest by the Ahmedabad Police ahead of the CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In a related development, the Western Railway on Friday cancelled the Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express train from Ahmedabad to New Delhi, an official said. Some of the activists claimed that they were detained or placed under house arrest on Friday ahead of the CJP protest in Delhi for the ouster of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said on Saturday that actions were taken as needed, adding that nobody is under detention currently. Activist Dev Desai alleged he had been under house arrest from Friday morning to early Saturday. "I was kept under house arrest until this morning. Police were stationed outside my home since Friday morning. They left on Saturday morning. I had no plans to go to

Arvind Kejriwal's residence heavily guarded on day of CJP protest

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged that Delhi Police had turned party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence into a fortress ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party's protest at Jantar Mantar. Kejriwal on Friday said that he and his family will attend the protest and urged youngsters to join the demonstration for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged "vote theft". The party's Delhi unit president Bharadwaj said protesters wanted to raise their concerns in a "non-violent" manner, but the heavy deployment of security personnel was creating an atmosphere of fear. "You cannot make Gen-Z keep quiet by force-- these are our youth; talk to them, engage with them. BJP government wants to show that we are a scared country. We are not; we believe in non-violence and the Constitution of India," Bharadwaj said in a video message. The government has responded to the protest call by casting a security net across central Delhi, deploying thousands

CJP protest curbs: Rahul says govt will go; AAP calls it 'black emergency'

Rahul Gandhi has said that the Modi government will fall as Congress seeks the CEC's resignation; AAP condemns security curbs ahead of the CJP's planned Jantar Mantar protest

CJP protest today: Police detain over 1000 people as Dipke heads to Delhi

Dipke compared Delhi's security curbs to the Emergency as police detain people ahead of the CJP's Jantar Mantar protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over SIR of electoral rolls

Delhi traffic curbs from 6 am for CJP protest; check affected roads

Stringent traffic restrictions came into force across the national capital from 6 am on Saturday ahead of a protest at Jantar Mantar by the CJP, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with diversions planned at several points across Delhi. Police personnel were out in large numbers across the capital, manning barricades and keeping a close watch on vehicular movement as security was stepped up ahead of the demonstration. The heightened security comes amid traffic curbs, metro restrictions, train cancellations and a mobile internet suspension in parts of the national capital. Delhi Traffic Police has warned of disruptions around Connaught Place, Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Patel Chowk and other key intersections in central Delhi. The diversions, which began at 6 am, will be regulated according to the prevailing law and order situation. According to the traffic advisory, the affected stretches include the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, ...

Delhi Police expects 7,000 protesters, directs personnel to show restraint

Delhi Police expects around 7,000 protesters to arrive in the national capital on Saturday, with senior officers directing personnel to exercise maximum restraint and handle the situation professionally, an official said. During a briefing ahead of the planned demonstration, police personnel were instructed not to react to any provocative acts by protesters and to maintain calm throughout the operation, they said. Sources said Delhi Police has made it clear that no unauthorised gathering will be allowed. Personnel have been directed to detain those arriving to participate in the protest and shift them to designated detention centres. Action may also be taken against individuals claiming to be independent journalists if they attempt to provoke police personnel or create a confrontation, depending on the circumstances, they said. On the possibility of shifting the protesters to Ramlila Maidan, police clarified that no application seeking permission to hold a demonstration there has b

Delhi Police detains 30-40 people with criminal records before CJP protest

Delhi Police has detained people with criminal records across all 15 districts of the national capital as part of preventive measures ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, police sources said. According to sources, around 30 to 40 people with criminal records have been picked up from all 15 districts as the police stepped up security arrangements to maintain law and order. Police are also keeping a close watch on the movements of certain people who could mobilise people or influence them to participate in the proposed demonstration, the source said. Surveillance has been intensified outside the residences of such people as part of the security measures, added the source. Security arrangements have been tightened across Delhi in view of the proposed protest.