Over 5,000 detained in Delhi amid anti-CEC protest
Delhi Police detained over 5,000 protesters, including several prominent activists and a YouTuber, who were attempting to demonstrate against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Authorities cited the lack of permission and the imposition of prohibitory orders under the BNSS as the reasons for the mass detentions.
Why it matters
The mass detention of protesters in the capital highlights significant friction between civil society groups and state authorities regarding election oversight.
The Delhi Police detained more than 5,000 protesters across the national capital on Saturday as they attempted to stage a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The police also detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder members Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at the Delhi airport, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee at his residence in Gurugram, and All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora.
A senior police officer said the Delhi Police had denied permission for the CJP to hold its planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed across the New Delhi district, prohibiting unauthorised public assemblies, demonstrations and protests.
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