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Delhi Police Detain 700 Protesters Including AAP Leaders at Jantar Mantar

Delhi Police have taken into custody approximately 700 demonstrators, including senior Aam Aadmi Party figures, during a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Student organizations also participated in the demonstration.

LSN India · 2 October 2026

Delhi Police Detain 700 Protesters Including AAP Leaders at Jantar Mantar

Delhi Police conducted a large-scale operation at Jantar Mantar on Monday, detaining roughly 700 protesters who had gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The action saw the apprehension of senior AAP leaders, including prominent party members, alongside activists from various student organizations who had joined the demonstration. The protest had been organized to press for Kumar's removal from his position, reflecting growing criticism of the Election Commission's functioning. Police cordoned off the area and systematically detained the gathered demonstrators as the crowd assembled at the popular protest venue in central Delhi. The mass detention marks an escalation in the handling of anti-government demonstrations in the capital, with authorities moving swiftly to disperse the gathering. The exact charges, if any, under which the detainees were taken into custody remain unclear at this stage. The incident comes amid ongoing political tensions in Delhi and broader questions about the autonomy and impartiality of the Election Commission in the country's governance structure.