Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has said the Bengaluru police action against protesters during a demonstration on October 12 will be reviewed, while directing the police not to obstruct peaceful protests.
The protest was held in Bengaluru to demand the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Kharge said the review would examine how city police treated the protesters during the demonstration.
In a post on X, the minister described peaceful protest as a fundamental democratic right that must be respected and protected. He said the right should not be suppressed for any reason and added that he had instructed the police not to interfere with peaceful demonstrations.
Kharge also asked protesters to cooperate with the police and inform the relevant authorities in advance. He said advance information could help protect the safety of demonstrators as well as the rights of other people.
The minister framed the issue as a balance between the right to dissent and the responsibility to maintain public order. “Police are there to protect your rights, not to obstruct your voice,” he said in the post, adding that the administration’s responsibility extended beyond maintaining law and order to creating an environment where citizens could express disagreement freely and without fear.
Kharge further said that peaceful dissent in a democracy should not be treated as a threat to law and order. Instead, he said, law and order must protect that right.
The statement places the conduct of Bengaluru police during public demonstrations under scrutiny while also setting out expectations for protesters. The minister’s comments do not specify what action was taken against demonstrators, how many people were involved, whether arrests or detentions occurred, or what procedure will be followed for the review.
The episode highlights the administrative challenge of managing protests in a dense city, where demonstrations can affect traffic, public access and the functioning of surrounding areas. It also places responsibility on both the police and organisers: authorities must protect peaceful assembly, while protesters are expected to coordinate with officials and cooperate with safety arrangements.
The review will determine whether the police response during the October 12 demonstration was consistent with the direction to protect peaceful protest and maintain public order. Kharge’s statement did not provide a timeline for the review or identify the officials who will conduct it.
