Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has ordered a review of Bengaluru Police’s handling of a recent protest and directed the force not to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, a day after several protesters were detained while trying to march towards the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
The protesters were seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. They also accused the police of manhandling protesters and photojournalists during the action. These allegations were reported in connection with Monday’s attempted march; the supplied report does not provide an independent account from the police.
In a post on X, Kharge said the handling of the protesters would be reviewed. He also said he had instructed the police to ensure that no peaceful demonstration was disrupted.
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy and must be respected and protected, not suppressed,” the minister said.
Kharge appealed to protesters to cooperate with the police and keep the authorities informed so that their safety and the rights of others could be protected. He said the police’s role was to protect citizens’ rights rather than obstruct their expression.
“The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice,” he said.
The minister added that maintaining law and order was not the police’s only responsibility. He said the force also had to create conditions in which citizens could express dissent freely, peacefully and without fear.
“Peaceful dissent is a democratic right, not a threat to law and order,” Kharge said, stressing that the police had a duty to protect that right.
The proposed review places the conduct of the Bengaluru police response under examination while leaving the details of the inquiry, including its scope and timeline, unspecified in the available report. The minister’s directions also call for a distinction between peaceful demonstrations and activity that may threaten public safety or the rights of other citizens.
The immediate dispute arose around the protesters’ attempted march to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The demonstration focused on alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and the protesters’ demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation. The available report does not state whether the march had received prior permission or provide details of any police restrictions imposed before the detentions.
Kharge’s instructions make the protection of peaceful protest an explicit responsibility for the police while asking demonstrators to coordinate with authorities. Further details are expected from the review ordered into Monday’s handling of the protest.
