Bengaluru Anti-SIR Protest Leads To At Least 100 Detentions
At least 100 people were detained in Bengaluru on October 12 while attempting to march to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The demonstrators gathered near KR Circle, intending to submit a memorandum demanding the cancellation of the exercise and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Students, lawyers, women and activists participated in the demonstration. Senior journalist and activist Aakar Patel was among those detained. Protesters alleged that police pushed participants into buses and used unnecessary force. The action drew criticism as DK Shivakumar participated in opposition protests in New Delhi over the Election Commission. The contrasting scenes placed Karnataka’s handling of peaceful demonstrations under scrutiny.
Police Say Demonstrators Gathered Without Permission
Bengaluru Central Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshay M Hakay said the protesters had assembled without permission. According to his account, officers asked them to move to Freedom Park, but they did not comply.
Police said participants were consequently taken into preventive custody and later released. Hakay maintained that officers acted with restraint and described the confrontation involving journalists as unintended.
This account differs from allegations made by protesters and media personnel. Whether officers used excessive force remains a matter for examination rather than an established finding.
Journalists And Photographers Allege Manhandling
Journalists covering the demonstration alleged that they were threatened and directed to leave. Three photographers were allegedly manhandled despite identifying themselves as members of the press.
The allegations extended concerns beyond the treatment of demonstrators to the ability of journalists to cover public protests. Police acknowledged friction at the scene but disputed suggestions of deliberate misconduct.
In their memorandum, the protesting groups also raised concerns about possible arbitrary voter deletions, procedural irregularities and transparency in the SIR exercise. They sought restoration of the January 2025 electoral rolls and stronger safeguards during future revisions. These were the demonstrators’ demands and allegations.
DK Shivakumar Promises Scrutiny And Accountability
Responding to the controversy, Shivakumar said he had sought a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the police action. He stated that unnecessary force or excesses would invite accountability. In a subsequent statement, he said peaceful protest rights should apply consistently, including to demonstrations against the Election Commission, the Karnataka government or him personally. He argued that Congress could not demand those rights in Delhi while denying them in Bengaluru.
Priyank Kharge also said instructions had been issued to ensure peaceful demonstrations were not disrupted. He emphasised the administration’s responsibility to protect peaceful dissent while maintaining public order. The statements commit the leadership to examining the incident, but the supplied information does not include the findings of an inquiry or any disciplinary action.
