Delhi protest blocked as UN voices concern over detentions

Delhi Police restrictions and detentions prevented many demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar on October 10 for a Cockroach Janta Party protest over voter-list revisions. The United Nations human rights office voiced concern about reports of mass detentions and urged authorities to respect peaceful assembly and release anyone arbitrarily detained. The CJP had called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging irregularities in revisions to electoral rolls. Police refused permission for the gathering and imposed security measures, including barricades and checkpoints, that blocked access to the protest site. The restrictions kept many demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar. CJP said its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after their flight from Mumbai landed in Delhi. Delhi Police had not publicly commented on their detentions in the reports. Hundreds of people were detained during the demonstrations, while reported totals for Delhi varied by geographic scope and reporting time.