Published Oct 13, 2026 | 4:15 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 13, 2026 | 5:09 PM
Protesters said the police manhandled women and journalists.
Synopsis: On Monday, 12 October, police detained around 50–60 protesters after they attempted to stage a demonstration near the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office against alleged SIR irregularities. Several journalists covering the protests were also allegedly manhandled by the police. Plainclothesmen roughing up a photojournalist and snatching their camera was caught on video.
The alleged police high-handedness during an anti-SIR protest in Bengaluru seems to have embarrassed the Congress government in Karnataka.
The Congress — leading the protest nationally — has been vocal against police excesses in Delhi and elsewhere in the country, but the police under its rule, too, have allegedly engaged in a similar act.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday, 13 October, said he had sought a full report on the circumstances that led to the police action during an anti-SIR protest in Bengaluru a day ago. Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the police action would be reviewed, but asked protesters to cooperate with the police and keep authorities informed for their safety and to protect others’ rights.
Taking to social media, Shivakumar said peaceful protest is fundamental to Indian democracy. “We cannot demand that right for ourselves in Delhi and deny it to others in Bengaluru,” he said, referring to the Congress and INDIA bloc-led protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
However, in Bengaluru, police allegedly manhandled women protesters and journalists during a demonstration outside the office of the state Election Commission.
“I have taken note of yesterday’s incident involving protesters and members of the media. I have sought a full report on the circumstances that led to the police action. If there has been any unnecessary use of force or excess, accountability will follow,” Shivakumar said on X.
He further said that disagreement with anyone, including his government or him, does not diminish anyone’s right to express it peacefully.
“Karnataka must hold itself to the democratic standards that we expect from the rest of the country. There will be no double standards,” he said, reiterating, “We cannot demand the right to protest in Delhi and deny it in Bengaluru. There will be no double standards.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the government will review how it handles the protesters.
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy. It must be respected, protected and never suppressed,” he said.
Kharge added that he had instructed police to ensure that no peaceful demonstration is disrupted.
He appealed to all protesters to cooperate with the police and keep the authorities informed so their safety and the rights of others are protected.
“The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice. Our responsibility is not merely to maintain law and order, but to create an environment where every citizen can express dissent freely, peacefully and without fear. In a democracy, peaceful dissent is not a threat to law and order. It is a right that law and order must protect,” he said on X.
Also Read: Anti-SIR protesters detained near CEO office in Bengaluru
On Monday, 12 October, police detained around 50–60 protesters after they attempted to stage a demonstration near the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office against alleged SIR irregularities. Several journalists covering the protests were also allegedly manhandled by the police. Plainclothesmen roughing up a photojournalist and snatching their camera was caught on video.
Several women protesters alleged that they were roughed up.
Later in the day, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division), Bengaluru, said police took the protesters into preventive custody because they assembled without permission or prior notice, contrary to the High Court’s directive to hold protests at designated places.
The agitators rejected the police’s request to relocate to Freedom Park, and “hence (they) were taken into preventive custody in accordance with the law, and subsequently released,” the DCP said on X.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
