Protesters called for the chief election commissioner’s removal and an end to the special voter-roll revision as police stopped the march toward Jantar Mantar.
Police detained at least 500 people during a march in central Delhi against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for the revision to be scrapped. The AISA-backed demonstration was in its third consecutive day.
The march began at about 4 p.m. near Andhra Bhavan on Ashoka Road. Police barricades stopped the crowd near the Shangri-La intersection, about 1.5 kilometres from the starting point. The Hindu reported detentions and clashes along a stretch of about 500 metres. The newspaper said protesters were pushed into buses and that force was used. Traffic was temporarily restricted as Delhi Police, central forces and the Rapid Action Force deployed in the area.
A journalist who had alleged sexual harassment and rough handling by a police officer at Saturday’s protest was among those detained. AISA president Neha was detained for the third consecutive day and later released from a police station in the Narela industrial area. The 83-year-old filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza also attended in a wheelchair. After her release, Neha said protesters were asserting citizens’ right to question the authorities and demonstrate at designated sites. The Hindu also reported that protesters broke a detention bus window and several people climbed out.