‘Release Them Unconditionally’: UN Demands India Immediately Free Thousands Detained in Massive Delhi Electoral Protests
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The United Nations Human Rights Office has issued an urgent directive to Indian authorities, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of thousands of people arbitrarily detained during a massive security crackdown across the national capital. The international human rights body raised deep concerns over reports of widespread detentions including demonstrators, political leaders, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists ahead of and during large-scale protests in Delhi on Saturday.
The UN intervention follows an intense law-enforcement operation in which over 7,000 protesters were taken into custody across New Delhi. Demonstrators had gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
UN Calls for Utmost Restraint and Respect for Assembly Rights
In an official statement, UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan emphasised that Indian authorities must fully respect and uphold the right to peaceful assembly.
Key points highlighted by the United Nations Human Rights Office:
- Immediate Release Mandate: The UN urged the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arbitrarily detained before and during the demonstrations.
- Proportionality Principle: The body stressed that any restrictions placed on peaceful protests must meet strict legal tests of necessity and proportionality.
- Call for Restraint: Law enforcement agencies were urged to exercise the utmost restraint, in line with India’s democratic traditions and international human rights commitments.
- Dialogue Encouraged: The UN called on government authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the widespread concerns raised by citizens.
High-Profile Detentions and Capital Security Blanket
The nationwide mobilization saw prominent figures, political activists, and journalists rounded up by police forces. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and senior party leaders were taken into custody straight from an aircraft upon landing at Delhi airport. Prominent political commentator and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from a residential apartment in Gurugram by a joint team of Delhi and Gurugram police.
To halt the demonstrations, authorities deployed 35,000 security personnel, suspended mobile internet within a four-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar, and imposed strict traffic curbs across Delhi's borders. Multiple journalists covering the event were also briefly held and had their phones seized. Protests in solidarity were reported in other metros, including Mumbai, where activist Tushar Gandhi and actor Imran Khan were detained by local police.
