New Delhi: Heavy security arrangements were enforced across parts of New Delhi and Mumbai on Friday as law enforcement moved to prevent unauthorised demonstrations directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) handling of electoral roll revisions.
High-Stakes Face-off at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar
In the national capital, Delhi Police detained hundreds of demonstrators near Jantar Mantar after they attempted to hold a gathering scheduled to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti.
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Protest Organisers: The rally had been called jointly by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Manoj Jha, and Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan.
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Security Clampdown: Having anticipated a turnout running into several thousands, authorities had denied prior permission for the event and deployed heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were invoked to bar unlawful assemblies.
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Detentions: As protesters defied the bans, scuffles broke out with security forces. Police detained several key activists—including AISA leader Neha Bora—and bussed them away from the site to contain the crowd.
Demonstrators demanded institutional accountability from the ECI and called for strict action against Kumar, citing widespread discrepancies and alleged disenfranchisement during recent voter list revision exercises across various states.
Parallel Security Measures at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park
A corresponding security grid was established around Shivaji Park in Mumbai, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had slated a parallel agitation demanding Kumar’s formal resignation.
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CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had called for public mobilization at the historic ground.
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Mumbai Police denied permission for the assembly and cordoned off sensitive access points to pre-empt public order disruptions.
Both state police apparatuses maintained high alerts throughout the day to forestall further flash protests as political debate over voter-roll revisions continues to escalate.
