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Responding to the sweeping and disproportionate restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police and the Government of India ahead of planned protests in the capital on Saturday 10 October, Aakar Patel, Chair of Board, Amnesty International India, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeaceful protesters must be able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention, or sweeping restrictions on their freedoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom denying permission for a peaceful demonstration, halting all Delhi-bound trains, and sealing the city\u2019s borders, to issuing an internet suspension order near the protest site, and pre-emptively arresting activists \u2013 India\u2019s authorities are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to prevent this march from happening. The right to protest is protected in India\u2019s constitution. The authorities must immediately lift all\u00a0these arbitrary restrictions, which violate India\u2019s obligations under international law. Demonstrations should not depend on obtaining prior permission from the police. At most, organizers may be expected to notify the authorities of their plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nPeaceful protesters must be able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention, or sweeping restrictions on their freedoms<\/p>\n
Aakar Patel, Chair of Board, Amnesty International India<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cWith more than 30,000 security personnel reportedly being deployed in the city, it is critical that police protect the public, not punish people for exercising their rights. Security measures are there to protect people, not punish\u00a0them for exercising their fundamental rights. We urge the authorities to exercise the utmost restraint and take all necessary steps to protect and facilitate the right of peaceful assembly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, student unions and opposition parties, have been protesting since 2 October to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar\u2019s resignation amid controversy over the Election Commission\u2019s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. More than 130 million people have been deleted from electoral rolls since 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Delhi Police stated that permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on 10 October had not been granted. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Student union members and activists associated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been detained, placed under house arrest outside Delhi or intercepted and detained while travelling to the capital by road and rail.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Restrictions on travel into Delhi will reportedly be put in place from the night of 9 October to the early hours of 11 October, with Delhi Metro stations scheduled to close, bus services set to be suspended, and the capital\u2019s borders to be sealed to buses, trucks, tractors and other large transport vehicles. \u00a0<\/p>\n
A 24-hour mobile internet shutdown has been ordered in central Delhi from Friday night. The suspension will cover a 4km radius around the protest sites, according to a notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police\u2019s Special Cell.\u00a0<\/p>\n