The United Nations human rights office has expressed concern over reports of mass detentions during a large protest in New Delhi, urging Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.

The demonstration on Saturday (October 10) was organised by a youth-led movement demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to UN News, protesters and opposition groups have criticized the revision of India's voter rolls, which has reportedly removed tens of millions of names. Critics allege the exercise could benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while authorities say the revisions aim to correct duplicates and discrepancies.

UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists had reportedly been detained before and during the rally. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained and urged law enforcement officers to exercise restraint.

Police had denied permission for the protest at its planned venue, with heavy security deployment and road closures reported across parts of the capital.

India's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva rejected the concerns, calling them “misplaced” and accusing the UN office of unwarranted interference in the country's internal affairs. It said India's Constitution and institutions protect the right to peaceful assembly, subject to reasonable restrictions for maintaining public order.

BOB Post