UN Human Rights Concerned Over Mass Detention During Protests In Delhi, Mumbai; calls for the release of detainees | Today’s news
The UN human rights office on Saturday (October 10) expressed concern over reports of mass detentions of protesters, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists in Delhi before and during large-scale demonstrations.
The UN body urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, exercise restraint in dealing with protesters and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.
“We are concerned by reports of mass detentions of protesters, protest leaders, members of civil society organizations, lawyers and journalists in India before and during today’s large-scale demonstrations in Delhi,” the UN said in a statement.
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The Cockroach Janta Party has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls during a special intensive review. The planned demonstration was at Jantar Mantar.
She expressed concern over reports of mass detention and called on the Indian authorities to respect the peaceful assembly, exercise restraint and immediately release those arbitrarily detained. He also called for a meaningful dialogue with the protesters.
Reports say that more than 7,000 people have been detained in Delhi. About 400 people were detained at various locations in Mumbai.
Preventive detention is placement based on a reasonable fear that someone might endanger public order or safety. A common arrest is generally associated with an alleged crime and the legal process that follows.
An arrest warrant is not always required, but the police must have a lawful reason to detain someone. Under section 170 of the BNSS, detention under this power is limited to 24 hours, unless further detention is authorized under other applicable law.
“Restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality,” it added, calling on the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue to address the concerns raised by protesters.
The UN human rights office has urged Indian authorities to ensure that law enforcement officers exercise “maximum restraint” in responding to peaceful protesters, in line with India’s democratic traditions and human rights commitments.
She also called for meaningful dialogue to address the protesters’ concerns.
The statement came as a massive security operation in the state capital thwarted a planned mobilization at Jantar Mantar by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid a row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Over 7,000 detained across Delhi
According to reports, more than 7,000 protesters were detained in Delhi as police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at key locations to prevent protesters from entering Jantar Mantar.
More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were reportedly involved in the security operation. Barricades were erected in Lutyens’ Delhi while authorities carried out checks at border crossings, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels and other sensitive locations.
Several metro stations were also closed, disrupting movement in parts of the capital. The police issued repeated announcements at Jantar Mantar and directed people and mediators not to gather in groups.
Despite the heavy deployment, some protesters tried to break through the barricades. Around 1 pm, a group allegedly pelted stones at security personnel near Akashwani Bhawan on Imtiaz Ali Marg, injuring two policemen. The protesters were detained and the police are likely to register several FIRs in connection with the incident, a senior officer said.
Police also detained people at several places, including Hanuman Temple, Safdarjung Flyover and Kerala House, as well as some protesters who managed to enter Jantar Mantar.
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CJP leader Abhijit Dipke, Dhruv Rathee is among those arrested
CJP convener Abhijit Dipke and party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained at the Delhi airport after arriving from Mumbai.
In a video shared by the CJP, Dipke was heard telling policemen who boarded the plane, “We are here to be arrested, come and arrest us.
Before the arrest, the police personnel told the CJP leaders that they did not have permission to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Deepke criticized the action and said party leaders were being treated like criminals. He also argued that the detention reflected authoritarianism.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who lives abroad and traveled to India to join the demonstration, was detained by police at his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56.
Authorities also monitored social media platforms for attempts to mobilize people for protest. More than 200 content creators were reportedly under scrutiny as police investigated online posts and messages linked to the proposed rally.
Former prime ministers and opposition leaders detained
Several opposition leaders were among those detained as they tried to join the demonstration from different parts of the capital.
They included former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the CPI(M) and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of the CPI(M).
The detention drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accused the government of suppressing dissent.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of turning the “mother of democracy” into a “muzzled democracy”, alleging that the BJP and RSS were showing cowardice through the intervention.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed solidarity with the protesting youth and urged them to continue their demonstrations.
Gandhi also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrest all the protesters and said they would continue to fight to defend the constitution and protect the voice of the Indian people.
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Sonam Wangchuk warns of a possible protest if the detainees are not released
Activist Sonam if these detainees are not released within 24 hours.
Wangchuk had earlier joined the CJP’s 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak issue. That protest ended on July 25 after the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, according to the supplied account.
The earlier agitation also witnessed disturbances during a march to Parliament on July 20 when security personnel tried to stop the protesters.
400 detained in Mumbai
The demonstrations also sparked arrests in Mumbai, where police detained around 400 people at various locations for allegedly protesting without a permit in solidarity with the mobilization in Delhi.
Those detained reportedly included actor Imran Khan, activist Tushar Gandhi and CPI(M) workers. Demonstrations were held at August Kranti Maidan, Hutatma Chowk and other places.
Across Delhi, authorities maintained heightened security, including the deployment of more than 120 companies of the Central Armed Police Force to assist the police. Mock drills were conducted at several locations to assess preparedness, while liquor stores across the capital were closed as a precaution.
Read also | CJP’s Jantar Mantar Protest: Dipke, Ranka, Das Reach Delhi
