Around 50 members of the All India Students’ Association and social activists were detained on Saturday after gathering near Bengaluru’s Town Hall to protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protesters were taken in two buses to the City Armed Reserve grounds on Mysuru Road in Chamarajpet, where they were held for some time before being released, according to the Indian Express. Police deployed heavy forces and erected barricades near Town Hall to prevent the demonstration. Additional police platoons remained stationed in the area to prevent further protests.
The action followed the rejection of the organisers’ request to hold a demonstration outside VN Hall. The SJ Park police cited Karnataka High Court guidelines that restrict protests and rallies to Freedom Park, the designated protest venue in Bengaluru.
In a notice dated October 17, the police referred to the High Court order and said demonstrations, rallies, placard displays and mock protests were prohibited at locations other than Freedom Park. The notice warned of legal action against violations and stated that the organisers could hold the protest at Freedom Park after obtaining permission and complying with applicable legal requirements.
An AISA Karnataka member said the Bengaluru police had formally rejected the group’s intimation to protest at Town Hall. Organisers and activists criticised the police action and alleged that the State government was applying different standards to peaceful demonstrations. They questioned the government’s position, arguing that while the Home Minister had spoken in favour of peaceful protests and condemned police action against protesters in Delhi, Bengaluru police had prevented their demonstration.
City-based social activist and advocate Narasimhamurthy also criticised the action and said the agitation would continue until the protesters’ demands were met. The protesters’ stated demands centre on opposition to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The incident also affected movement through the Town Hall area. Traffic was disrupted for some time because of the gathering and the heavy police deployment. The police maintained its position that demonstrations at the site were prohibited under the High Court guidelines and directed organisers to Freedom Park for any protest, subject to prior permission and other legal requirements.
