World · India Bureau
Protesters blocked from reaching Delhi's Jantar Mantar, gather at alternate sites
Hundreds detained as anti-CEC demonstrators face police restrictions and disperse into smaller groups across the capital. Students and activists congregate near INA after failing to access their designated protest venue.
LSN India ·
Police restrictions forced anti-CEC protesters across Delhi to abandon plans for a mass gathering at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, with demonstrations fragmenting into smaller clusters at alternate locations including areas near INA. Hundreds of participants, including students and civil society activists, were detained as security forces deployed to prevent crowds from converging on the traditional protest site.
The inability to reach the designated venue transformed Dilli Haat into an impromptu gathering point, as demonstrators struggled against police cordons and diversified their presence across multiple locations in central Delhi. The dispersed nature of the protests reflected heightened security measures implemented to manage the demonstrations, forcing organizers to adapt their strategy.
Police action resulted in widespread detentions throughout the day, though exact numbers of those held remained unclear. The scattered protests highlighted the challenges faced by demonstrators in assembling at conventional gathering points, effectively fragmenting what had been planned as a unified demonstration.
The protests came amid ongoing tensions over governance and institutional matters, with participants vocal about their demands despite the administrative obstacles placed before them. Security personnel maintained presence across multiple sites to monitor the situation.