Delhi Police Detain Around 100 Protesters At Connaught Place Despite Supreme Court Directions
Delhi Police continued detaining protesters at Connaught Place on Sunday, October 11, as demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar resumed, despite fresh directions from the Supreme Court on the right to peaceful assembly.
Around 100 people were reportedly bundled into two buses and taken away from the area. John Brittas, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, was among the detainees. A man was removed from a burger restaurant, later claiming to have been standing nearby, in another incident when he was suspected of being part of the protest.
The detentions came hours after a special Supreme Court bench directed authorities to ensure that peaceful, unarmed people were not detained except in accordance with the law.
Supreme Court Directs Authorities To Prevent Unlawful Detentions
A special bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued directions during an urgent hearing on petitions concerning alleged mass detentions, restrictions on movement, internet disruptions and compliance with earlier court orders on transport restrictions in Delhi.
The court directed authorities to ensure the normal operation of Metro and railway services, subject to lawful restrictions required to maintain public order. It also called for internet connectivity to remain undisturbed and for the free movement of people to be restored in accordance with the law.
The bench further directed authorities to remove a notice imposing prohibitory restrictions around the Supreme Court and other court complexes to ensure that people could access courts without obstruction.
The hearing followed allegations that restrictions imposed ahead of Saturday’s CJP demonstration had affected public transport and curtailed citizens’ ability to move freely.
John Brittas Condemns Police Action
Brittas criticised the police response, alleging that force had been used against people participating in peaceful demonstrations.
He said the detentions would not discourage protesters and argued that the movement would continue despite attempts to restrict it.
The CPI(M) leader also questioned the circumstances in which CJP leaders, including Abhijeet Dipke, were taken into custody after arriving at Delhi airport.
Brittas, however, said the police action was against the regular procedure of the police and asked how officers were able to board an aircraft to detain the leaders.
His statements have arrived in the context of increasing criticism from the opposition leaders and activists at the preventive detention of demonstrators in the lead up to the planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
Man Says He Was Detained Despite Not Participating In Protest
One of the persons arrested at Connaught Place, who spoke to media on condition of anonymity, alleged that he was standing peacefully near the protest when police took him away.
He asked how such arrests were occurring simply because individuals were in the area of a demonstration and that the right to peaceful protest was legitimate.
The report says another man was ejected from a burger joint because police suspected him of being a protester. He later claimed that he was standing alone and was then let go.
These accounts raised further questions about how police were identifying individuals for detention during the demonstrations.
Police Register More Than 20 FIRs
Delhi Police have registered more than 20 first information reports (FIRs) in connection with attempts to organise demonstrations in the capital on Saturday despite restrictions imposed by the authorities, senior police officers said.
Police have also registered more than 20 FIRs concerning alleged attacks on personnel during the protests.
According to a police officer quoted in the report, the cases relate to alleged attempts to disrupt public order and obstruct government officials from carrying out their duties.
The police response to the demonstrations has drawn criticism from protesters and political leaders, who have questioned the scale of the security measures and the detention of people attempting to assemble.
CJP Questions Alleged Infringement Of Fundamental Rights
Ratna Singh, the CJP’s head of legal affairs, said the need to approach the Supreme Court over the issue itself raised concerns about the treatment of protesters.
She questioned why the state machinery was allegedly being used to restrict fundamental rights and called for accountability over the police action.
The CJP has been leading demonstrations demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The allegations concerning the electoral process and the police response remain central to the ongoing confrontation.
Delhi Police’s response to the latest allegations was awaited, according to the report.