Delhi Protest Over Voter Rolls, 700 Detained, Internet Cut

Protests erupted in New Delhi on Friday over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of India's electoral rolls, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Political parties, student groups and other organisations gathered at Jantar Mantar to raise allegations of irregularities and the mass deletion of voters from electoral rolls. Authorities ordered a 12-hour suspension of internet services at Jantar Mantar and in areas within a 1.5-kilometre radius of the protest site.

Internet services were suspended from 9am to 9pm on Friday, with telecom operators including Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea instructed to comply with the order. There was no immediate official statement from the Delhi or central governments on the internet shutdown.

The protest involved political parties as well as student organisations including the All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and National Students' Union of India (NSUI).

Protesters alleged that irregularities in the SIR process had resulted in large numbers of voters being removed from the electoral rolls. These allegations prompted calls for Kumar's resignation. The Election Commission and government have denied wrongdoing.

Police said the protesters had not obtained permission to hold the gathering. More than 700 protesters, including political leaders and student activists, were detained from Jantar Mantar and nearby areas, according to police and multiple reports.

The authorities also imposed restrictions around the protest site, with several metro stations affected as police sought to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar.

The internet shutdown was the second such suspension around Jantar Mantar in three months. Internet services were also suspended in parts of central Delhi in July during protests over allegations surrounding a medical entrance examination paper leak.