New Delhi: Security personnel detain protesters during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at INA in New Delhi on Saturday, October 10, 2026. (Photo: IANS/Deepak Kumar)
New Delhi, Oct 10 Over 3,000 protesters were detained on Saturday amid tight security arrangements in Delhi to prevent a proposed protest against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Those detained include several opposition leaders, including CJP leader Abhijit Deepak, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi Police and security agencies imposed an unprecedented security cordon around Jantar Mantar, fragmenting the planned protest into smaller groups. Barricades, traffic diversions, and other restrictions were put in place in several parts of the capital to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.
CJP leaders Abhijit Deepak, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 10:30 am on Saturday. They were going to protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list.
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said that the protesters would march to Jantar Mantar again on Sunday and continue the protest until the Chief Election Commissioner resigns.
The administration had previously denied permission for this protest. Authorities had imposed internet restrictions, road blockades, and traffic diversions to prevent a repeat of the violent protests at Jantar Mantar in July.
According to the police, those detained were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium and various police stations, where they were released in the evening.
Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was also detained from his residence in Gurugram. According to the CJP, around 50 plainclothes police officers arrived at around 8 a.m. on Saturday and took him away.
Minor clashes were also reported in some areas of the city. A bus carrying detained people was pelted with stones in the Jhandewalan area. Some protesters attempted to break through barricades near Akashvani Bhawan, leading to clashes with police.
More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the capital in view of the protests. Forty-five metro stations around Jantar Mantar were closed. Internet services were suspended in central Delhi, and traffic controls were imposed on several major routes. In light of the situation, many schools, colleges, and courts switched to online mode for the day.
Drone surveillance was conducted at key locations as part of security measures. Several metro stations, including the Supreme Court and Mandi House, remained closed. Vehicles were checked at Delhi’s borders, and police officers equipped with body cameras monitored protesters.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to hold a special hearing on Sunday. The petition alleges that the widespread closure of Delhi Metro stations and train services to prevent protesters violates court orders. A bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana is reportedly expected to hear the matter.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, and the CJP of disturbing the peace and security of the capital for political interests. He said, “Delhi will not be held hostage, and no one will be allowed to create chaos.”
Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the detention of youth exercising their right to peaceful protest. She said the government is afraid of the issue being exposed.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on social media that people questioning the government, including youth, students, lawyers, journalists, social activists, farmer organization leaders, YouTubers, and content creators, are being detained.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the nation’s capital has been turned into a fortress and attempts are being made to suppress the voices of peacefully protesting youth.
Mamata Banerjee was detained along with several of her party MPs from the South Avenue area, while Arvind Kejriwal was detained as he left his home. Kejriwal alleged that the government wants to suppress the issue of vote theft, but the people of the country will not allow this to happen.
