Published Oct 04, 2026 | 7:23 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 04, 2026 | 7:23 PM
AISA is among the organisations leading protests in New Delhi, with Bora emerging as the face of the agitation.
Synopsis: Lawyer and human rights activist Vrinda Grover, the CPI(ML) and others have expressed concern for the safety of AISA president Neha Bora after she was detained by a team of all-male Delhi Police personnel and taken away in an unmarked vehicle to an undisclosed location on Sunday evening during protests at Jantar Mantar against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. AISA said that not a single female police personnel was present in the car. Grover demanded that the Delhi Police state where Bora was being held.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Sunday, 4 October, said that its president, scholar Neha Bora, was detained by a team of all-male Delhi Police personnel and whisked away in an unmarked vehicle.
Bora was detained along with several protesters from Ashoka Road on Sunday evening after she climbed a barricade when the Delhi Police stopped the march towards Jantar Mantar.
A video posted by CPI(ML) on X shows Bora seated in a white car flanked by male police personnel.
🚨 #ALERT | AISA President Comrade Neha has been detained by Delhi Police and is being whisked away in a car of unknown origin. Her safety and whereabouts are a serious concern. We demand immediate confirmation of her safety and location. This colonial-style repression of democratic dissent and the right to protest will not be tolerated.
— CPIML Liberation (@cpimlliberation) October 4, 2026
Lawyer and human rights activist Vrinda Grover expressed concern about the manner of the detention and demanded that the Delhi Police immediately make clear where Bora had been taken.
“There are alarming reports that Neha Bora… has been taken away in a white car by policemen, from the protest near Jantar Mantar about 5 pm. No information about her has been given to her friends and party associates who were present at the protest with her. It is also reported that there were only male police men in the car that drove off with Neha Bora,” Grover said in a post on X.
“Has Neha Bora been arrested by Delhi police? Surely, you are familiar with the law and procedure. Where is the arrest memo? Have you informed friends and associates of Neha Bora? What legal provisions have you detained her under? Where is Neha Bora being detained? There is a grave apprehension of danger to the safety, dignity, and life of Neha Bora.”
The CPI(ML) Liberation demanded immediate confirmation of her safety and location and accused the Delhi Police of using “colonial-style repression of democratic dissent and the right to protest”.
Abhijeet Dipke, founding president of the Cockroach Janata Party, said on X: “Beti Bachao Delhi Police se!”
AISA is among the organisations leading protests in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests have intensified over the past few days, with Bora emerging as the face of the agitation.
On Saturday, police deployed heavily around Jantar Mantar as protesters defied prohibitory orders imposed in the New Delhi district under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police registered at least three FIRs in connection with Friday’s protest.
Reports said more than 1,000 people were detained after police barricaded roads leading to Jantar Mantar.
Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, who announced his participation in the protest on Saturday, said a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar was a democratic right and could not be denied through police action.
Bora had said detention would not intimidate the protesters and asked them to rest and regain their energy to continue the agitation. She had also praised Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Nitya Ramakrishnan, Anjali Bhardwaj and Yadav, calling them “heroes”.
“Our Heroes! I hope that when we are your age, we are as strong and steadfast as you all,” she said on X while posting their photographs.
A separate post on Bora’s X handle showed a group of women police personnel shoving and pushing her inside a vehicle. A male protester was seen stepping between the police and Bora. The video was captioned, “This is Delhi Police’s Peace, Service and Justice”!
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
