Protests in New Delhi lead to detention and legal scrutiny of demonstrators

The brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in New Delhi over the last weekend is alarming with mass detention, unlawful use of force, the targeting of journalists, human rights defenders including lawyers, and internet shutdowns, said rights groups in a statement. Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders and South Asians for Human Rights call on the Indian authorities to release everyone arbitrarily detained for the exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and ensure accountability for abuses by security forces. On 10 October 2026, protests were called by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and backed by student groups calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, following reports that the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the election commission removed around 130 million names from voter lists. Since the call for protests, authorities used Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to ban gatherings of more than five people. Ahead of the 10 October protest, more than 50,000 police and security personnel were reportedly deployed, some drawn from other states. Trains and buses to New Delhi were cancelled or suspended, metro train stations were closed, and the city’s borders were sealed to large vehicles. Anti-riot vehicles with tear gas launchers were stationed near protest sites. At least 10,000 people were reportedly detained for violating prohibitory orders across India before the march, many while travelling to Delhi. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other leaders were detained for violating prohibitory orders on 10 October after landing at Delhi airport and were held overnight. Thousands of protesters were arbitrarily detained by the police in New Delhi including journalists who were covering the protests. Others detained included student leader Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and economist Jean Drèze. Police moved to break up the demonstrations before they could begin, intercepting demonstrators on their way to Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in central Delhi. Some were dragged away before being bundled into police vehicles and taken to temporary detention centres. Some police personnel had no visible name tags . Arbitrary detentions continued on 11 October and there were reports of physical attacks by police on protesters in detention. Many women protesters and journalists accused security personnel of sexual harassment while detaining them during the protests. Right-wing vigilante groups were also seen threatening and assaulting protesters and journalists. Some of them harassed Muslim women journalists while they were covering the protests. Nearly 40 journalists were detained over the two days. Some of them were physically assaulted, intimidated, and had their camera and mobile phones seized or destroyed despite showing their press identity cards. A group of lawyers who carried out a rally near the Supreme Court in support of protesters also faced unlawful force by police and some were detained briefly. Instagram accounts of the news outlets Molitics and Journo Mirror have been blocked in India during its coverage of the protests citing Information Technology Rules. On 10 October authorities also ordered a 24-hour mobile internet shutdown in central Delhi. Mobile internet was also reportedly blocked at eight stadiums used as detention centres, cutting detainees off from their lawyers and families. Reports also suggest that the shutdown was taking place beyond areas of protests and detention. On 13 October, the Delhi Police de-notified the Jantar Mantar area in central Delhi as a protest spot and provided alternative venues further away. CJP leaders continued their protest and were arrested near Jantar Mantar. On 14 October Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from CJP were ordered by a court to be detained in judicial custody for five-days for ‘ trespassing ’ in Jantar Mantar. The right to protest is protected in India’s constitution. Demonstrations should not depend on obtaining prior permission from the police. At most, organizers may be expected to notify the authorities of their plans. The crackdown follows the July 2026 CJP protests where human rights groups documented unlawful use of force against those protests, including pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas and no officer in Delhi Police has been held accountable. We call on the Indian authorities to: Immediately and unconditionally release all those detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and drop all charges against protesters, journalists and lawyers who have been arbitrarily detained Undertake an independent investigation of violations committed by security forces against protesters, activists and journalists including arbitrary detention, unnecessary and excessive force, ill-treatment and sexual harassment and bring those responsible to account Instruct all police and security personnel to respect journalists’ right to report, return seized or damaged equipment, and stop coercing journalists to delete footage or hand over personal data End arbitrary internet shutdowns and the blocking of accounts that cover or support protests Ensure that all uniformed law enforcement officials conducting policing of demonstrations must wear identity badges in visible places Investigate and prosecute violence by non-state actors against protesters and journalists Ensure that security forces follow the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials while responding to peaceful protests Ensure peaceful protesters are able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention, or sweeping restrictions on their freedoms.