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Over 100 anti-SIR protesters marching towards EC headquarters detained by Delhi Police

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 23 Oct 2026 2 hours ago

New Delhi: Delhi Police detained more than 100 protesters on Friday as they marched towards the Election Commission headquarters against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Authorities imposed restrictions on mass gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, sources said.

The Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR called the demonstration. Students, youth, farmers and activists participated with national flags and banners. The Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) supported the march, which drew participants from Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Protesters hold People’s Parliament

The march started near Gole Dak Khana, at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg. Participants raised slogans including “Gyanesh Kumar, resign”, “Halt SIR” and “Won’t tolerate vote theft”. Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat joined the protesters, alongside members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association and All India Democratic Students’ Organisation.

After police stopped the procession, participants sat down to hold a ‘People’s Parliament’, as organisers had announced. “This is not about reclaiming Jantar Mantar; this is about saving democracy and the country,” a protester said, according to PTI.

Another participant said every street would become a Jantar Mantar following its denotification as a protest site.

Campaign spans 88 cities

According to People Against SIR, the campaign involves 145 organisations, with demonstrations planned across 88 cities in 18 states. Its website lists programmes from Friday until November 1.

Organisers appealed to farmers, workers, women and youth to participate with national flags. They said the Delhi march would remain peaceful and end with resolutions and the national anthem. The SFI also called for solidarity protests in central Delhi and at district headquarters on Friday.

Security deployment, traffic restrictions

Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in large numbers across central Delhi. Authorities enforced traffic diversions from 1 pm, scheduled to last until 5 pm. Congestion was expected near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Connaught Place, Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar.

Traffic police advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel through affected stretches, plan their journeys and follow personnel’s directions. The demonstration comes amid objections from opposition parties and several organisations to the SIR exercise and allegations of voter deletions from electoral rolls.

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