Published Oct 02, 2026 | 3:56 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2026 | 4:09 PM
Police shifting detained protesters from Jantar Mantar.
Synopsis: Police had promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the entire New Delhi district ahead of the protest at Jantar Mantar. The police also issued a traffic advisory, informing the citizens of traffic restrictions and regulations. Internet services were banned in and around Jantar Mantar.
The Delhi police detained several protesters at Jantar Mantar — the designated protest zone in the national capital — even as the agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls gathered steam on Friday, 2 October.
By 2:30 pm, at least 700 protesters were detained, reports said. All India Students’ Association national president Neha Bora, a prominent face of the July agitation seeking accountability over the NEET gaffe, Aam Aadmi Party’s Atishi, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Kumar, CPI(M)’s MA Baby, Brinda Karat, and several SFI and NSUI leaders were among those detained in Delhi.
The protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR.
“The people are united. Detained protestors are repeatedly being released by the people on the streets!
Jantar Mantar 2.0 is on!
Gyanesh will soon be gone!” Neha Bora said on X.
Earlier, she said, ” History will remember you, Delhi Police and whose side you were on, who you were trying to save and who you attacked!”
Also Read: At Jantar Mantar, a generation that stopped being afraid
Police had promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the entire New Delhi district ahead of the protest at Jantar Mantar. The police also issued a traffic advisory, informing the citizens of traffic restrictions and regulations. Internet services were banned in and around Jantar Mantar.
AISA’s Neha Bora being dragged away from Jantar Mantar.
“The fervor of the revolutionaries remains intact at the Fatehpur Beri police station as well,” Atishi posted from the police station.
“We will continue to fight for democracy. We are not afraid of Modi ji’s police; Gyanesh Kumar will have to go,” she added.
Even as a large posse of Delhi police and RPF personnel took positions at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut 11 stations until further notice on Friday. Entry to and exit from Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi stations remained shut.
However, interchange facilities remained available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat stations.
The Central Executive Committee of the SFI said the Delhi police “carried out a mass crackdown on SFI and DYFI activists gathered at Jantar Mantar.
Protesters defied prohibitory orders and gathered in large numbers.
Political commentator, activist and influencer Dhruv Rathee likened the shutting down of Metro stations to the days of the British Raj.
“British Raj has ordered the shutdown of railway stations amid Non-cooperation protest calls by Gandhi’s followers,” he said on X
“Police has also warned against doing public speeches, shouting of slogans, processions, demonstrations and dharnas
Supporters of British Raj are desperately trying to scare Indians with the threat of arrest if they participate in the Non-cooperation movement [sic],” he added.
SFI said in a statement that several of its leaders, along with DYFI and CPI(M) leaders, including general secretary MA Baby and Brinda Karat, were detained while participating in the protest.
Also Read: Jantar Mantar protests mark the birth of fear among Modi and his men
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and civil society organisations began arriving at Shivaji Park well before the scheduled 4 pm to protest the Election Commission.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the whole country would support calls to oust “traitor” Gyanesh Kumar.
“The youth of the whole country, the young generation, everyone came out last time for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,” Das said, referring to the July agitation.
“And this time too, it is going to be the same with Gyanesh Kumar, who is a traitor to the country. The youth of Mumbai are hitting the streets again. Today, a massive protest is going to happen at Shivaji Park. And I want, I appeal to all the Mumbaikars and our friends. Everyone come,” he said.
Shivaji Park was under heavy police deployment even as a section of the residents objected to using the park as a protest site.
(Compiled by Majnu Babu).
