Protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were met with mass detentions, alleged custodial violence, restrictions on communications and the use of police vehicles fitted with cage-like compartments as demonstrations continued across the national capital on October 10 and 11. Journalists covering the protests were also detained and allegedly assaulted, while lawyers attempting to reach detainees reported being turned away. The crackdown has drawn criticism from the United Nations, Amnesty International, journalists’ organisations and civil liberties groups.
The protests, led by the student organisations, Left parties, lawyers’ groups, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other groups, centre on allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters are demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the withdrawal of the revision exercise, which critics say has resulted in the exclusion of millions of voters. The Election Commission has denied wrongdoing.
According to multiple media reports, thousands of people were detained in Delhi on October 10 alone. While estimates varied, reports put the number at approximately 7,000. The police action continued on Sunday, October 11, when student and youth organisations attempted to resume demonstrations despite the Supreme Court’s intervention concerning restrictions on public transport and the rights of protesters, journalists and lawyers.
Prison-style buses, alleged beatings and minors among detainees
Accounts published by The Wire detail allegations of physical violence against people detained during Sunday’s protests, including minors. At least 50 people picked up from Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar were taken to a community centre in Pandwalan Khurd, around 40 kilometres from central Delhi, after being moved through Chhawla police station.
Arjun Unnikrishnan, a 30-year-old lawyer who was among those detained, told The Wire that detainees were made to sit in rows on an isolated road before police personnel began identifying people who had recorded videos or taken photographs of the protests. He alleged that officers seized phones, demanded passwords and beat people who refused to hand over access to their devices.
Unnikrishnan described detainees being passed from one police personnel to another, slapped and struck, including on their private parts. He said minors were among those subjected to the alleged violence.
A student who spoke to The Wire on condition of anonymity also alleged that detainees were slapped and beaten inside a police vehicle. The student described the vehicles as prison-like, with railings and enclosed compartments that left those inside unable to escape the alleged assaults. Detainees further alleged that police personnel accessed their phones, deleted photographs and videos of the demonstrations, and withheld the devices after taking them into custody.
The detainees were eventually taken to the community centre at Pandwalan Khurd, where they said they were not provided food or water and were unable to contact lawyers or obtain immediate medical assistance. Lawyers who arrived at the centre later that evening alleged that police personnel initially refused to let them enter, despite the Supreme Court’s directions concerning access for lawyers and journalists.
Fahad M. Khan, a lawyer who went to the centre with his colleague Gaurav Cyclewalla, told The Wire that they had to call a police control room vehicle before they were able to gain entry. Injuries among detainees reportedly included a fractured arm. Lawyers said they were preparing complaints alleging illegal detention, physical assault, phone seizures and denial of medical examinations.
The Hindustan Times also published accounts from protesters who alleged that police slapped them, struck them on their private parts and transported them 30–40 kilometres from central Delhi. The allegations came as the police continued to use stadiums and other facilities as temporary detention locations.
Aranya Singh Rathore allegedly assaulted inside a detention van
Aranya Singh Rathore, a member of the Disha Students’ Organisation, was allegedly assaulted during detention on October 11. According to accounts published by The Wire, Rathore was held by the throat and beaten inside a police vehicle, with fellow detainees alleging that police personnel targeted protesters after the vehicle’s lights were switched off.
Her friends and lawyers reportedly struggled to locate her and were unable to obtain immediate access to her at the Connaught Place police station. She was subsequently taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College for a medico-legal examination and was released a little after 2 am, according to The Wire. Members of the organisation also alleged that phones had been taken from detainees and that police personnel taunted them about the absence of media coverage inside the vehicles.
The Wire report also documented allegations that women protesters were confined in cage-like compartments inside detention vehicles. AISA president Neha Bora questioned whether the buses were being used as makeshift jails before protesters could even reach designated detention centres.
Are detention buses the new jails? https://t.co/XFxcGxUVGg
— Neha (@neha_aisa) October 11, 2026
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) separately alleged that its national president, Adarsh M. Saji, Delhi state secretary Sooraj Elamon and other student activists had been assaulted inside police vehicles. Images and accounts circulated by student organisations showed injuries among those detained.
Journalists detained despite press cards; reporters allegedly manhandled
Journalists covering the demonstrations faced police action on both Saturday and Sunday, with media organisations reporting detentions, physical assaults and the seizure of reporting equipment. According to the Hindustan Times, at least 12 journalists were detained on October 11 while covering the protests. Those detained included reporters from The Indian Express, The Hindu and other publications.
Where is @harshdelhise???
@DelhiPolice has made a journalist disappear, and his whereabouts have been unknown for over 48 hours!
AMPLIFY THIS EVERYWHERE until his whereabouts are known!
— Neha (@neha_aisa) October 12, 2026
Three journalists from the Hindi edition of The Indian Express, identified as Shashwat, Siya and Vijay Kumar, were detained in Connaught Place despite displaying their press credentials. They were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, approximately 12 kilometres away, and released after around 45 minutes, the newspaper reported.
Peek TV journalists Vedanta Agarwal and Sara Khan also alleged that police personnel dragged them while they were reporting on the detention of demonstrators. Khan told The Hindu that a male police officer grabbed her by the neck and pushed her towards woman security personnel after she attempted to document the police action.
Journalist Shyam Meera Singh was also seen in video footage being manhandled and pushed into a detention bus while reporting on the protests. The Times of India reported allegations that journalists were punched, pushed into police vehicles and detained despite wearing identification.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it had confirmed the detention of Newslaundry reporters Ashwine Kumar Singh, Astha Savyasachi and Anmol Pritam, as well as Scroll reporter Ayush Tiwari. It called on the Delhi Police to release detained journalists and media workers, return their equipment, investigate allegations of physical abuse and allow the press to report without interference. Newslaundry also reported that police seized its reporters’ official phones.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation condemned the detentions of journalists, digital creators and citizens, describing the seizure of reporting equipment and the detention of reporters who had shown their credentials as intimidation and an assault on press freedom. The organisation demanded the release of detained journalists, the return of seized devices and accountability for alleged misconduct.
Digital journalists deserve the same rights, protection and respect as any newsroom.
DIGIPUB demands unhindered access for all journalists, legacy or digital, to cover protests in Delhi and across the country.
@DelhiPolice @HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi @indSupremeCourt https://t.co/H3JBDCPznP— DIGIPUB News India Foundation (@DigipubIndia) October 11, 2026
The National Alliance of Journalists also condemned the action and expressed solidarity with the Delhi Union of Journalists, the Indian Women’s Press Corps and the Press Club of India. Earlier, the Editors Guild of India had expressed grave concern over reported sexual assault against women journalists covering the protests. In a statement issued on October 10, the Guild said it was concerned that the Delhi Police had yet to take cognisance of the serious allegations.
Lawyers detained outside the Supreme Court; senior advocate allegedly thrown into moving bus
Lawyers attempting to protest the electoral roll revision were also detained, including advocates picked up near the Supreme Court complex. India Today reported that around 50–60 advocates, including senior and women lawyers, were detained on October 10. They were subsequently released following the intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, after the Supreme Court Bar Association sought urgent assistance.
The Hindustan Times reported that the lawyers had been taken to the Yamuna Sports Complex after being detained near the Supreme Court. Their detention prompted the Chief Justice of India to contact the authorities to secure their release.
The Indian Express reported that the Delhi High Court Bar Association condemned the detention of lawyers and the alleged excessive use of force. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat reportedly said that police personnel tore his shirt and threw him into a moving bus during the crackdown. The detention of lawyers was particularly significant given the subsequent Supreme Court proceedings concerning the restrictions imposed on demonstrations and the need to ensure that legal professionals could discharge their duties without obstruction.
Chhatrasal Stadium, Yamuna Sports Complex among detention sites
Police transported protesters detained at different locations to stadiums and other facilities being used as temporary detention centres. The Indian Express reported on October 10 that protesters were picked up before they could reach Jantar Mantar and taken to stadiums and makeshift detention locations. The Yamuna Sports Complex was among the locations used for detaining lawyers, while Chhatrasal Stadium was used to release journalists who had been taken into custody the following day.
The Wire subsequently reported that detainees from Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar were taken to Pandwalan Khurd, where they alleged they were kept behind locked gates and denied timely access to lawyers and medical assistance.
A separate report by The Wire on October 12 disclosed that the Union Home Ministry had ordered the suspension of mobile internet services within a 500-metre radius of eight detention centres on October 10. The order covered Chhatrasal Stadium, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana, Yamuna Sports Complex, Jasola Sports Complex, a community centre in Daulatpur, another in Pandwala Khurd, Jangli Ram Stadium in Nizampur and Surajmal Stadium in Nangloi.
The suspension was ordered from midnight until 10 pm on October 10, under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. The order cited public safety, the prevention of a public emergency and the maintenance of public order.
The additional shutdowns came alongside a separate 24-hour suspension of mobile internet services within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing, near the planned protest site.
Right-wing group members unleash violence, assault on protesters
Amid the widespread police action against demonstrators, videos also emerged of right winged men openly assaulting young protesters on October 10. According to The Wire, four men identified as members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal were seen in footage attacking a male protester and knocking a woman to the ground before assaulting her. The incident took place on DDU Marg in central Delhi.
The Indian Express and NDTV reported that the Delhi Police arrested four men in connection with the assault on October 11. The men were accused of assaulting students and pushing and hitting women during the protest. Hindu Raksha Dal president Bhupender, also known as Pinky Chaudhary, publicly acknowledged the accused as members of his organisation and vowed to protect them. His statements followed the circulation of videos showing the assault.
The footage also prompted questions about the conduct of police personnel present at the scene. The assault took place amid the broader crackdown on protesters demanding accountability over the SIR exercise. While demonstrators were being detained across central Delhi, the video of the alleged attack by members of the right-wing organisation triggered a separate round of public condemnation.
United Nations calls for release of ‘arbitrarily detained’ protesters
The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) expressed concern on October 10 over reports of mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists before and during the protests in Delhi. In its statement, the UN called on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly was fully respected and fulfilled and urged the release of those it described as arbitrarily detained. The statement came as thousands of protesters were being taken into custody, while journalists and lawyers reported being prevented from carrying out their professional duties.
#India: We are concerned by reports of mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists, before and during today’s large-scale demonstrations in Delhi.
We call on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and fulfilled.
https://t.co/tqrQyZoXBJ
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) October 10, 2026
The Union Ministry of External Affairs rejected the UN’s intervention on October 11, calling its observations an example of “extreme selectivity” in public positions. The ministry maintained that Indian law enforcement authorities acted in accordance with the law and that citizens could seek redress through the courts.
The MEA also accused the UN human rights office of applying double standards and described its comments as unwarranted interference in India’s internal affairs. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN had similarly termed the concerns misplaced and urged the OHCHR to apply its mandate impartially.
The exchange followed the UN’s call for the authorities to uphold peaceful assembly amid reports of widespread detentions, including those of journalists, lawyers and civil society members.
Amnesty International condemns restrictions on protest
Amnesty International had raised concerns even before the October 10 demonstration, warning on October 9 that the restrictions imposed in Delhi were disproportionate and threatened the right to peaceful assembly. Aakar Patel, Chair of the Board of Amnesty International India, said protesters must be able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention or sweeping restrictions on their freedoms.
The right to protest is protected in India’s constitution. Denying permission, halting trains, sealing Delhi’s borders, restricting internet and pre-emptively arresting activists suppresses dissent.
The Delhi Police must protect not punish people exercising their fundamental rights. We urge the authorities to exercise the utmost restraint and take all necessary steps to protect and facilitate the right of peaceful assembly.
https://t.co/29FKGipnE6— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 9, 2026
Reports of more than 5,000 people including opposition leaders, student union leaders, journalists, and lawyers being detained by the Delhi police point to the desperate attempt by the government to suppress critical voices. The Delhi police is creating a climate of fear. https://t.co/ZaGagRaua2
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 10, 2026
Amnesty cited the denial of permission for the planned demonstration, restrictions on travel into Delhi, the sealing of borders, the proposed suspension of public transport and the internet shutdown near the protest site. It also flagged the preventive detention of activists and the deployment of more than 30,000 security personnel, according to reports at the time.
The organisation urged authorities to lift arbitrary restrictions, exercise restraint and protect the right to peaceful assembly. It also emphasised that security measures should protect the public rather than punish people for exercising their rights.
In an earlier statement on October 2, Amnesty had condemned prohibitory orders, detentions and internet and public transport restrictions imposed amid protests in Delhi and Mumbai. It reiterated that the right to protest was protected under the Constitution and international human rights law.
Supreme Court intervenes as crackdown continues
The police action continued despite the Supreme Court’s intervention on October 9 and its subsequent proceedings on October 11. On October 9, the Court directed the Centre not to completely suspend train services to Delhi or shut down Delhi Metro stations, stressing proportionality and the need to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to commuters. It also asked the government to consider an alternative venue equipped to accommodate peaceful demonstrations.
During the subsequent hearing, the Court issued notice in a contempt petition concerning the restrictions and sought to ensure that journalists, lawyers and other professionals were not obstructed while performing their duties. Its directions also addressed unlawful detention, internet access and the review of barricades.
The proceedings came amid reports that protesters were being detained, transported to distant facilities and denied access to lawyers. The allegations of physical violence inside detention vehicles emerged as the Court was considering the restrictions imposed on the demonstrations.
The Indian Express reported that the Court’s intervention followed widespread detentions and concerns over the closure of public transport facilities. The Times of India also reported the Court’s directions concerning peaceful assembly, access to public transport and the ability of journalists and lawyers to discharge their duties.
The police maintained that protesters had been unwilling to cooperate during detention operations and that force was sometimes required to remove them. However, allegations of beatings, phone seizures, denial of legal access and mistreatment of minors continued to emerge from detainees and their lawyers.
Crackdown extends beyond Delhi
The restrictions and detentions were not confined to the national capital. Amnesty International reported that activists and student union members were intercepted while travelling to Delhi, placed under house arrest or detained outside the city.
According to the civil liberties organisation People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), students travelling from Pune were removed from the Goa Express at Itarsi on the night of October 8. Other students were reportedly detained in Bhopal and Gwalior, while activists and student leaders faced police action in several states.
PUCL also reported detentions and restrictions in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chandigarh. In Ahmedabad, the organisation alleged, plainclothes Crime Branch personnel visited students and professors and sought undertakings that they would not participate in the protests.
Detailed reports may be read here and here.
The Indian Express reported that the crackdown extended to political leaders, activists and demonstrators intercepted at transport hubs and along routes leading to the planned protest venue.
In Mumbai, around 700 people were reportedly detained during solidarity demonstrations on October 10, including protesters at August Kranti Maidan and Hutatma Chowk. Those detained included Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and other activists.
PUCL subsequently condemned the detentions and alleged use of force against protesters, including young people, lawyers and women. The organisation called for the release of those still detained, the withdrawal of cases against peaceful demonstrators and an independent inquiry into alleged custodial violence.
The organisation also raised concerns about the deployment of facial recognition systems, drones and body cameras during the crackdown, and called for an end to mass surveillance of peaceful protesters.
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