Delhi protests LIVE: Rapid Action Force deployed as protests intensify; police bus window smashed, many detained
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
Delhi protests LIVE updates: A Citizens’ March, led by All India Students' Association (AISA), is scheduled to begin at 3 pm, followed by an Indian Youth Congress march along the same route at 5 pm. Delhi protests LIVE updates: The Delhi Police has deployed around 5,000 personnel, including those from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other paramilitary forces, in the Capital ahead of two protest marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls today. ...Read More
Adding to this, A Citizens’ March, led by All India Students' Association (AISA), is scheduled to begin at 3 pm, followed by an Indian Youth Congress march along the same route at 5 pm. Citizens’ March at 3 pm The Citizens' March at 3 pm is also set to raise women's safety concerns, All India Students' Association (AISA) revealed on social media. In a post on X on Saturday, the AISA wrote, “Today, Delhi Police manhandled, assaulted & groped female students & journalists. Why? Not for demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. Just because Delhi Police treat women as objects to assault with impunity.” Youth Congress march at 5 pm The protest march by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) is scheduled for 5 pm, it revealed on X, calling for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. “Delhi, we have plans tonight. No cafes. No clubs. Bas mashaal, placards aur thode uncomfortable sawaal,” the post read. Women journalists accuse Delhi Police of sexual harassment Three women journalists have accused senior Delhi Police officers of sexual harassment during Saturday's protest against the Election Commission (EC) at Jantar Mantar. The police shared on Sunday that their complaints had been forwarded to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation. In a post on X, the Delhi Police shared: “On October 3, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. The New Delhi district has received their complaints and the same are transferred to crime branch for fair and impartial enquiry.” The journalists have alleged that police officers deployed at the protest site touched them inappropriately while they were reporting on the demonstrations. On Saturday evening, several independent journalists and social media influencers held a protest outside Parliament Street police station, demanding that FIRs be registered against the accused officers, including an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). Police step up security The police shared permission had not been granted for either of the marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar. However, it is expecting a large turnout as the protests enter their third consecutive day. The police shared PCR vans and other police vehicles would be stationed along all roads leading to Jantar Mantar. CCTV cameras will be monitored from the DCP (New Delhi) office. Drones may also be deployed to monitor the crowd and review security arrangements if the law-and-order situation demands it. Police personnel have been equipped with anti-riot gear, and the ministry of home affairs has been briefed on the security measures, officials shared. Why CEC Gyanesh Kumar is under fire CEC Gyanesh Kumar is at the centre of a row surrounding the Election Commission following an investigative report by The Indian Express that claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures related to the SIR exercise. Rejecting the claims, the Election Commission earlier shared that key decisions, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, were taken unanimously by the full commission.
Meanwhile, Delhi protests LIVE: AISA in a post on X shared its president Neha Bora was picked up by Delhi Police in an “unauthorised” vehicle and without a female constable.
Notably, “AISA President Neha Bora has been picked up by Delhi Police in an unauthorised vehicle, WITHOUT A SINGLE FEMALE CONSTABLE," the organisation shared in a post on X.
As per the latest buzz, Delhi protests LIVE: Members of AISA and other organisations hold a protest march near Ashok Road in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In further updates, In a post on X, he shared, “The fact that Amit Shah is willing to wage a war against his own citizens tells you just how vital Gyanu is to this regime’s grip on power.”
On top of that, Delhi protests LIVE updates: Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj, who was detained on Sunday shared, "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..."
Delhi protests LIVE updates: With students detained, protesters have now moved to the Shangri La roundabout for the protest.
Source: Hindustan Times