Several people were detained by police Friday as a protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was blocked near Jantar Mantar, with authorities also closing entry and exit gates at several nearby metro stations.
Student and civil society groups, including the All India Students’ Association, Students’ Federation of India and Democratic Youth Federation of India, had called the protest over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and its Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Police detained protesters and opposition leaders attempting to reach the designated protest site, according to The Associated Press. Authorities had denied permission for the gathering and imposed restrictions on public meetings and demonstrations in the New Delhi district.
Janpath was among the Delhi Metro stations where entry and exit were closed as security was tightened around Jantar Mantar. Interchange facilities remained available at selected stations, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corp.
The protests were organised separately from a demonstration called by the Cockroach Janta Party in Mumbai. The youth-led group has also demanded Kumar’s resignation over the voter-roll revision.
