India's Delhi protests over election chief grow as police detain thousands
Opposition parties and youth activists marched toward the Supreme Court after police detained thousands, while New Delhi was locked down and metro stations shut. Journalists have accused police of targeting reporters covering the demonstrations.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
Opposition parties and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed voter list revisions. Police detained thousands of activists and locked down central New Delhi, shutting metro stations ahead of a march toward the Supreme Court. Press groups and media rights bodies say police used excessive and targeted force against journalists covering the protests.
Why it matters
Critics say the voter list revision could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. India's Supreme Court has ordered authorities to restore metro, rail and internet services in New Delhi.
Timeline
- Oct 11, 3:01 AM ET: India rejected UN human rights concerns over security measures ahead of the planned Delhi demonstration, calling them unwarranted interference.
- Oct 11, 7:02 AM ET: The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed UN remarks on the Delhi protests as an unacceptable interference in internal matters.
- Oct 11: India's Supreme Court ordered authorities to restore metro, rail and internet services in New Delhi, a day after police detained protesters.
- Oct 12, 5:13 AM ET: Opposition parties marched to the Supreme Court over the voter list purge, and police detained thousands of activists.
- Oct 12, 10:20 AM ET: Reuters reported that press groups and international media rights bodies accused police of excessive and targeted force against journalists.
Coverage
- Indian police hold Cockroach Janta Party leaders as protests spread
- Indian diaspora protests in London, Dublin over voter roll revision
- Youth protests seeking election chief's exit grow as India detains activists
- Lawmakers ask Rubio to raise India's protest detentions
- India dismisses UN expert's youth rights report as unverified
- Indian youth protests against election chief persist after Dipke's release
More from World
- Iran attacks on Hormuz shipping cut traffic and lift oil prices
- Rubio visits India to discuss trade and Venezuelan crude
- Second possible Chinese drone mothership spotted near Guangzhou
- China's clean energy exports rise as Iran war boosts demand
- US sanctions five Chinese firms over AI trade secrets theft
- Modi marks Dussehra in Delhi, urging India to defeat enemies