Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has ordered a review of Bengaluru Police action during a recent protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and directed the force not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations. The instruction followed the detention of several protesters who were attempting to march towards the office of the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer on Monday.
The protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. They also accused the police of manhandling demonstrators and photojournalists during the action. The allegations were reported in connection with the protest, while the minister’s direction for a review establishes that the police response will now be examined by the state government.
In a post on X, Kharge said the handling of protesters by Bengaluru Police would be reviewed. He also said he had instructed the police to ensure that peaceful demonstrations were not disrupted. The minister described the right to peaceful protest as fundamental to democracy and said it must be respected and protected rather than suppressed.
Kharge appealed to protesters to cooperate with the police and keep authorities informed so that their safety and the rights of others could be protected. “The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice,” he said.
The minister’s remarks place responsibility on the police to balance public demonstrations with the protection of public order. In a large city such as Bengaluru, protests frequently take place near government offices, transport routes and other high-activity areas, making coordination between demonstrators and law-enforcement agencies central to how public spaces function during political or civic mobilisation.
Kharge said the police’s responsibility was not limited to maintaining law and order. They must also create an environment in which citizens can express dissent freely, peacefully and without fear, he said. He further stated that peaceful dissent was a democratic right and not a threat to law and order, and that the police had a duty to protect it.
The review comes a day after the attempted march towards the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The source report does not specify the number of people detained, the offences recorded against them, or whether any police personnel have been placed under investigation. It also does not provide the findings of any internal assessment of the allegations made by protesters and photojournalists.
The next step is the review ordered by the home minister and the implementation of his direction to Bengaluru Police. Further details on the review process, its findings and any action arising from it were not provided in the minister’s statement cited in the report.
