The Delhi Police registered at least 10 FIRs in connection with alleged assaults on protesters during the ongoing demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital.

This comes a week after sustained pressure from citizens, activists and media organisations across social media platforms demanding action against alleged assailants, including members of right-wing groups, accused of attacking protesters.

According to details shared by the police, an FIR was registered at Connaught Place police station on October 13 in connection with incidents highlighted in videos shared online. The police said one accused, identified as Gaurav, had been arrested, while the other accused were being traced. CCTV footage relating to the incidents is also being examined to identify those involved and establish the sequence of events.

In another case, four people were arrested after a video allegedly showing individuals assaulting and harassing protesters, including a minor girl, went viral on social media. The case was registered at Kamla Market police station on October 11 under Sections 115(2), 126(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police said legal action had been initiated against those involved and further proceedings were under way.

The police also registered cases in connection with other incidents highlighted in videos posted on social media on October 13 and 14. The social media links and screenshots associated with the cases have also been attached in a document seen by The Hindu.

The police said CCTV footage linked to the incidents was being examined to identify the persons involved, establish the sequence of events and determine the roles of the suspected accused.

The police said the footage was being analysed and appropriate criminal cases would be registered against those found to be involved, in accordance with the law.

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early Saturday (October 17, 2026) morning, while Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke will be produced before the SEM court, Delhi Police said.

Ms. Neha has been released after 12 hours of protests and outrage across the country, said former AISA leader, currently associated with CPI(ML) N. Sai Balaji

“Our fight for demanding resignation of Gyanesh Kumar will continue. SIR will have to be rolled back and Modi government cannot escape from accountability for destroying ECI and its autonomy,” he added.

Both were taken into preventive custody ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest march at Connaught Place in New Delhi on Friday (October 16, 2026).

Full coverage

Ms. Bora was released after completing formalities related to her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, while action was initiated against Dipke under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police said.

Mr. Dipke was subsequently arrested and will be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court later in the day, police sources said.

Ms. Bora was released after completing formalities related to her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, while action was initiated against Dipke under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police said.

Mr. Dipke was subsequently arrested and will be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court later in the day, police sources said.

On Friday (October 16, 2026), Ms. Bora was detained at Mandi House, while Dipke was detained at Jhandewalan, as they were on their way to Connaught Place, police sources said.

AISA claimed that after being detained, Bora was moved from one place to another across Delhi for five hours before being taken to RK Puram police station.

It alleged that lawyers reached RK Puram police station around midnight, but were not allowed to meet Bora.

(With inputs from PTI)

Delhi has come to a standstill on Saturday (October 10, 2026), as security forces enforced a massive lockdown to thwart the planned protests at Jantar Mantar.

In Connaught Place near the Jantar Mantar protest site, atleast five buses full of detained protesters have left the spot in P block in a span of 20 minutes. Suhasini Haidar reports from the ground.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC) chief Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders were detained by the Delhi Police from a bus stop in Delhi’s South Avenue, where they held a dharna.

Follow the updates of the Delhi protest on October 10, 2026.

Ms. Banerjee and other MAITC leaders were scheduled to join today’s protest at Jantar Mantar. However, they were denied permission to leave.

So Ms. Banerjee and others staged a sit in at South Avenue bus stop with placards such as ‘EC looted Bengal’, ‘Save Democracy, Save India.’

Party MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’ Brien reside in this locality.

Later, a Delhi Police officer confirmed to The Hindu that Ms. Banerjee and her supporters were detained.

Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained when they landed in Delhi to attend the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 10, 2026).

Follow the updates of the Delhi protest on October 10, 2026.

Earlier, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh told The Hindu on Saturday (October 10, 2026) that she had been detained outside her residence in Jangpura, New Delhi, amid a police crackdown ahead of a planned protest in the national capital. Delhi Police detained over 500 protesters across the city ahead of Saturday’s (October 10, 2026) demonstration.

“Delhi Police officials arrived at my residence around 8.45 a.m. They wanted to barge into my residence. But my flatmate, who is also a lawyer, stopped them from entering by telling them that they cannot enter or search my house without a warrant,” Ms. Singh said.

She said she was sitting in a friend’s car outside her residence along with two lawyers, surrounded by Delhi Police personnel.

“They have surrounded us. Our car has been blocked by Delhi Police personnel from all around. CRPF personnel are also around us,” she said.

Ms. Singh said Delhi Police personnel had told her that there were “verbal orders from above” requiring her detention at her residence.

She added that CJP representatives intended to move an application before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), through advocate Adit Pujari, challenging what she described as her “illegal detention”.

“They have not produced any warrant or orders. We were just three people, so we don’t even fall within the definition of an unlawful assembly,” she said.

Ms. Singh said she had been on her way to join a gathering of lawyers who intended to protest outside the Supreme Court ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“This pre-planned interception by the Delhi Police aims to cripple the leadership of today’s peaceful demonstrations before they even reach the protest site. The CJP denounces this blatant violation of freedom of movement and demands the immediate, unconditional release of Dipke, Das, and Ranka,” the CJP said in a statement.

The protest, called by the CJP and several Left organisations, seeks to intensify demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained in a joint operation by the Delhi and Gurugram police from a residential flat in Gurugram on Saturday morning (October 10, 2026), ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to sources in intelligence agencies.

Follow the updates of the Anti-CEC Delhi protest on October 10, 2026.

Mr. Rathee was staying with his parents at a flat in Central Park Vihar, Sector 56, Gurugram, when police personnel reached the residence. He was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location in Gurugram.

According to information available, Delhi Police personnel entered the residence at around 7.48 a.m. after his mother opened the door. Around 50 police personnel had reportedly gathered outside the residence late on Friday night (October 9).

Mr. Rathee had reportedly travelled to Delhi to participate in the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The planned protest comes amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital, with the police imposing restrictions on public movement and transport in anticipation of the gathering.

On Friday (October 9), Mr. Rathee posted a video on Instagram, filmed at Kartavya Path, in which he questioned the extensive security measures and transport restrictions introduced ahead of the planned protest. These reportedly included the proposed closure of metro stations, cancellation of trains and a temporary suspension of mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi.

The reported detention comes amid a wider police operation across the national capital.

With the police calling up volunteers, holding meetings with residents and using loudspeakers to announce that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in place near Jantar Mantar and youth organisations going door-to-door to mobilise those affected by the special intensive revision (SIR) process, people are in a dilemma over whether to join the protest on October 10 seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of the SIR drive. 

Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, empowers an Executive Magistrate (such as a District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police) to issue urgent temporary orders to maintain public order, prevent danger, or stop unlawful assemblies.

To stop people from gathering, the police has been holding meetings in colleges, universities, and PG accommodations to ask students and citizens not to join the protest. Officials said that joining the unsanctioned protest would disrupt law and order in the New Delhi area.

Police officials visited local mosques and market places in Old Delhi and announced that Section 163 of BNSS is in place in the New Delhi area, requesting citizens to not participate in the protest.

“Do not pay attention to any provocation. Do not come under the influence of any provocative messages or act. Be a responsible citizen and follow the law. Cooperate with police and administration in your areas. Advise your friends, family and children not to be part of a crowd unnecessarily, or participate in any protest because administration is only doing its work. This should not negatively impact us or our children,” announced a police official addressing citizens in Baghwali Masjid in Chandni Chowk on Thursday (October 8, 2026).

Locals in central Delhi are afraid to join the protest. “The police have been telling us not to join the protest as it is illegal to hold protests in New Delhi due to Section 163 being in place. All our shopkeepers and youth have been told not to provide food or take bulk orders expected to be served to protesters. We are afraid that if we join the protest, we will be detained by the police,” said Salauddeen, president of the Matia Mahal Traders’ Organisation.

However, in many areas, despite the police reaching out to citizens, associations have insisted on participating and have even mobilised people from their areas for October 10. “I have received calls from the local police saying that since Section 163 is in place, people should refrain from participating. We will not stop as it is our right to protest and SIR is a genuine issue that needs to be addressed. Several people who are not politically active otherwise have given their word to participate in the October 10 gathering,” said Ashok Bhasin, president of the North Delhi Residents’ Welfare Federation.

Door-to-door mobilisation

Youth organisations have been trying to mobilise people affected by the SIR process on the ground, targeting people in slum areas in various parts of the city. Several organisations have reached out to domestic workers, daily-wage earners, and factory workers to inform them how SIR can affect them. At least seven different organisations are doing door-to-door campaigns, including anganwadi and women’s organisations.

“There are people from marginalised sections, especially among the working class, who do not even know what SIR is and how the deletion of their names from the rolls can affect them. No BLOs or EC officials have approached them to tell them their names have been deleted or what documents they need to submit if their names have been deleted,” said Naureen, a member of the Disha Students’ Organisation.

She added that real mobilisation of the people happens on the ground, among those affected by the process. “We have been telling people to join the October 10 protest because they are the ones who have been affected by it the most,” she said. However, with heavy police deployment, transport, and communication services expected to be restricted on Saturday, she says it will be a challenge to bring them to the protest site. “We do not want them to suffer either, as they will have to travel from far-off places. People are willing to participate despite that, and no one has backed off as of now,” she added.

“Besides demanding Gyanesh’s resignation, we also demand the scrapping of SIR as a whole. We are going door-to-door in 13 different states as part of our Bhagat Singh Jan Adhikar Yatra to mobilise the working masses, demanding the scrapping of SIR and re-election in SIR-inflicted states,” said Vishal from the Revolutionary Workers’ Party of India.