Fresh scenes of unrest emerged from the national capital Delhi on Sunday as protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI) moved up a gear. Police ended up detaining journalists, political leaders and agitators despite an order passed by the Supreme Court restricting the detention of peaceful demonstrators.

Several scribes, including news reporters from a national daily and digital news platforms, as well as cameramen, were picked from outside the Press Club of India on Raisina Road in Delhi, Connaught Place and RK Ashram Marg, and were placed under detention. More than 70 people were taken into custody from outside the Press Club of India.

A bus ferrying detainees from Connaught Place had at least two journalists and two protestors who sustained bruises and were bleeding, raising concerns further over the police crackdown.

Detentions being executed despite top court’s order

The police action surfaced hours after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that peaceful, unarmed agitators could not be detained except in accordance with the ‘procedure established by the law.’

The court further clarified that such protestors could not be kept under detention beyond the area covered by a prohibitory order issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Despite the directives, detentions continued unabated at several locations across the capital. Neha Bora, President of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and CPI(M) leader John Brittas were among the ones detained at Connaught Place. Brittas, as per several reports, sustained injuries after allegedly being dragged by cops.

Meanwhile, on Raisina Road, members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged a protest after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) concluded its press conference.

Demonstrators amplify demands for CEC’s resignation

The demonstrators have voiced demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The agitation follows Saturday’s massive security deployment, when close to 41,000 police and CAPD personnel were mobilised across the national capital to avert a planned stir. The unprecedented crackdown reportedly culminated in the detention of 7,000 people and left large parts of Delhi deserted. Among the detainees were the former Chief Ministers (CMs) of four states, as well as CJP leaders, as police moved against students, lawyers and politicians attempting to march towards Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Security personnel deployed on duty blocked access to the protest site, although sporadic stirs continued at various locations throughout the day. After the fiasco which ensued on Saturday, CJP announced another round of protests on Sunday, extending the agitation into a second consecutive day.