Jantar Mantar Protest: Video of Alleged Police Punch Goes Viral Amid Mass

Delhi Police Detain Hundreds During Protest Over CEC Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi, October 2: Tensions rose in the national capital on Friday as Delhi Police detained hundreds of protesters who gathered or attempted to reach Jantar Mantar for a demonstration demanding action against the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. More than 500 protesters were detained, according to reports. 

A video circulating online appears to show a protester being held by police while an officer seemingly punches him in the face. The circumstances leading up to the incident, including what happened immediately before the alleged punch, were not immediately clear. The authenticity and full context of the video could not be independently established from the available reports.

The protest was organised amid continuing criticism of the Election Commission's handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters were seeking the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police had denied permission for the demonstration and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the New Delhi district. 

Among those detained were former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, AISA president Neha Bora and activist Yogendra Yadav. Police used buses to move detainees to different police stations as security was tightened around central Delhi. 

The restrictions also affected public transport, with multiple Delhi Metro stations temporarily restricting entry and exit around the protest areas.