NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Several opposition leaders and activists, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan, were detained in Delhi on Saturday as authorities stepped up security measures to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar for a demonstration against the Election Commission.
Activists Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were also detained as the protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls faced extensive restrictions across the national capital.
Around 2,000 people had been detained across Delhi by 2.49 pm, according to reports, as police barricaded roads leading to Jantar Mantar and restricted access to the designated protest site.
The detentions came amid a massive security deployment, with police and paramilitary personnel stationed across the capital and restrictions imposed on public transport services ahead of the planned demonstration.
After police detained at least 200 people attempting to reach Jantar Mantar, activists called on supporters to regroup near Dilli Haat.
Neha Bora, an All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader, and Yogendra Yadav, who led the march from the area, were detained along with lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan.
Mamata Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress leaders were detained outside her Delhi residence, while Kejriwal and Delhi AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj were detained near Jantar Mantar.
Pinarayi Vijayan was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, reports said.
The detentions followed earlier police action against protesters and public figures seeking to participate in the demonstration, including YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
Heavy security, Metro curbs
Delhi witnessed extensive security restrictions ahead of the protest, with around 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the capital.
Entry and exit restrictions were imposed at around 45 Metro stations, while more than 250 trains had reportedly been cancelled by 2 pm, disrupting public transport and commuter movement.
At least 1,200 people had also been detained overnight as part of preventive security measures, according to reports.
The demonstration was called to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and to demand accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The sweeping restrictions and detentions turned the planned demonstration into a day-long confrontation between protesters and law enforcement agencies, with opposition leaders and activists questioning the measures taken to prevent people from assembling at the protest venue.
