Amnesty India head among around 100 protesters booked in Bengaluru
Women manhandled as opposition to voter-roll revision grows across India
Bengaluru, : Amnesty India head Aakar Patel was among around 100 protesters detained by Bengaluru Police on Monday. The arrests were made during a demonstration against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls outside the office of Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
The protesters had gathered to oppose the SIR exercise and were attempting to carry out a march when police stopped them and took several participants into custody.
Women demonstrators alleged police personnel manhandled them during the crackdown.
The protesters had gathered near Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer’s office. They planned to march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Police stopped the demonstrators before they could proceed with the march. Reports said dozens of protesters, including students, lawyers, activists and academics, were detained. Some reports put the number at around 100.
Women allege police excesses
Women protesters alleged that police personnel handled them roughly during the detentions. Reports also said journalists covering the police action were manhandled.
The demonstrators were demanding that authorities scrap the SIR exercise. They also called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The controversy concerns the revision of electoral rolls and allegations of wrongful voter deletions. Opposition parties and activists have raised concerns about transparency and the possible exclusion of eligible voters.
Voter-roll revision sparks wider protests
The Bengaluru action came amid demonstrations in several Indian cities against the electoral-roll revision. Protesters have demanded accountability and safeguards against the removal of eligible voters.
Amnesty International India has separately criticised restrictions and detentions linked to protests over electoral-roll revisions. The organisation has called for the right to peaceful assembly to be respected.
The repeated detention of demonstrators has intensified debate over freedom of assembly. Allegations of mistreatment also underline the need for independent scrutiny of police conduct.
