New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- The United Nations Human Rights office on Saturday (October 10), expressed concern over reports of mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists in Delhi ahead of and during large-scale demonstrations.

The UN body called on Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, exercise restraint in dealing with protesters and immediately release those who had been arbitrarily detained.

"We are 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 demonstrations in Delhi," UN Human Rights said in a statement.

"Restrictions on...