New Delhi, Oct. 4 -- The heart of the national capital transformed into a fortress on Sunday as demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar entered their third consecutive day. Around 5,000 security personnel, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other paramilitary units, lined key thoroughfares as the city witnessed clashes, detentions of political figures and allegations of sexual harassment against a senior police officer by protesting women journalists.
Despite Delhi Police denying permission for planned marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar, large crowds gathered as part of a widening multi-city agitation. The protests intensified following an investigative report by The Indian Express, which reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding procedures related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission maintained that decisions were taken unanimously and that differences of opinion were normal.
Ahead of a scheduled Citizens' March organised by the All India Students' Association (AISA) at 3 pm and an Indian Youth Congress (IYC) march at 5 pm, authorities imposed extensive security restrictions in central Delhi. Multi-layered barricades blocked routes from Tolstoy Marg, Janpath Road, Sansad Marg, the Kerala Bhawan side, Ashoka Road and the C-Hexagon. Police monitored crowds through CCTV cameras from the DCP (New Delhi) office and deployed drones, while anti-riot gear was issued to personnel.
The mobilisation quickly escalated when protesters marching from Andhra Bhawan Circle tried to scale police barricades. Scuffles followed, with police claiming that some demonstrators attacked and bit personnel on duty.
Amid the chaos, several political figures and student leaders were detained. AISA National President Neha Bora was picked up during the march. Activists raised alarms on social media, alleging that she was taken away in an unauthorised private vehicle without an official number plate. Protesters tried to stop the vehicle by climbing onto it, while activists also alleged that no female constables were present, calling it a serious procedural violation. Bora was later released from the Narela Industrial Area police station but was reportedly left without her phone and bag.
The mobilisation also drew prominent AAP leaders. More than 25 AAP workers, including Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj and MLA Sanjeev Jha, were detained near India Gate. Speaking to reporters after his detention, Bharadwaj said, "They are picking me up and throwing me around like I am a football... There is such a large police force here, yet they are not even registering an FIR against their own ACP, nor are they arresting the ACP..." Bharadwaj also shared a photograph on social media showing him being held upside down by police, which he alleged was done to prevent cameras from capturing his face.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal condemned the police action, saying, "This is absolutely shocking. Modi ji has left Hitler behind." The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) also condemned the action after its members were taken into custody while raising slogans against "vote chori" and calling for electoral accountability.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.