Bengaluru: 50 detained during anti-SIR protest at Town Hall

Around 50 members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and social activists were detained by Bengaluru police on Saturday, October 17 after they gathered near Town Hall to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protesters were taken in two buses to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) grounds on Mysuru Road in Chamarajpet, where they were detained for some time before being released. This comes days after Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had sought a report on earlier police action on protesters and Home Minister Priyank Kharge assured that peaceful protests would not be disrupted.

The police deployed a heavy force and erected barricades near Town Hall to prevent the demonstration. Additional police platoons were stationed in the area to prevent further protests. Traffic movement around Town Hall was disrupted for some time due to the gathering and the police deployment.

The detention came after the SJ Park police rejected the organisers’ request to hold a demonstration outside Town Hall, citing Karnataka High Court guidelines restricting protests and rallies to Freedom Park.

In a notice dated October 17, the police referred to the High Court order designating Freedom Park as the venue for protests and rallies. The notice prohibited demonstrations, rallies, placard displays and mock protests at other locations, warning of legal action against violations. It said the organisers could hold the protest at Freedom Park after obtaining the necessary permission and complying with applicable legal requirements.

The organisers and activists criticised the police action, alleging that the State government was applying different standards to peaceful protests. They questioned the government’s position, pointing out that the Home Minister had spoken in favour of peaceful demonstrations and condemned police action against protesters in Delhi, while the police had prevented them from holding a demonstration in Bengaluru.