Protests against SIR LIVE: Police detain protesters during march to ECI HQ

A protest march against SIR began near Gole Dak Khana in central Delhi and headed toward the Election Commission of India headquarters. It brought together the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and the Students’ Federation of India, with activists from several areas. The march mattered because organisers framed it as a defence of voting rights and democracy.

Police stopped the protesters on Ashoka Road after warning them to leave the protest site. Rather than disperse, the protesters staged a sit-down demonstration. They then held a “People’s Parliament,” an action announced by organisers. One protester said the event was about “saving democracy and the country,” not reclaiming Jantar Mantar.

Delhi Police detained protesters, and detained people were taken away in police vans. The report does not state how many people were detained or whether the march later reached the ECI headquarters. Security had been tightened around Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, with Delhi Police and RAF personnel deployed in large numbers.

Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, is a comprehensive review of electoral rolls. Election authorities verify existing entries and identify people who should be added, corrected or removed. The aim is to keep the voter list accurate before elections. The source article uses the term but does not explain the procedure, so this definition draws on established election practice.

During an intensive revision, officials may verify voter details through local records and applications. Eligible citizens can generally seek inclusion, correction or restoration of their names. Officials also look for duplicate entries, deceased voters and people who no longer meet residence or eligibility requirements. The process affects whether a person appears on the list used at a polling station.

SIR has become the focus of the Delhi protest because organisers and supporters describe it as a threat to voting rights. Brinda Karat demanded that the government stop SIR. The article does not provide the revision’s dates, rules or disputed figures, so its practical impact cannot be assessed from this report alone.

The protesters were marching toward the Election Commission because their demonstration opposed SIR, or Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat demanded that the government stop SIR, protect the right to vote and ensure Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Organisers described the protest as a defence of democracy and the country.

The Election Commission of India is the constitutional authority responsible for supervising elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President. It prepares and updates electoral rolls, sets election schedules, recognises parties and oversees polling procedures. Its role makes it a natural focus for a protest about voter registration and electoral access.

The article reports that the march began near Gole Dak Khana and moved toward the ECI headquarters, but police stopped it on Ashoka Road. Protesters sat down and held a “People’s Parliament.” The report does not record an ECI response or confirm that the march reached the headquarters.

The Union Home Ministry extended the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Force companies in Delhi until October 31. This is a substantial security presence, but “companies” are organised units, not a precise headcount. Their personnel strength can vary by force and assignment, so the article does not establish the total number of officers or personnel involved.

The extension was based on the possibility of “flash protests” by political and other groups, according to official sources cited in the report. The forces had originally been brought to Delhi for protests by the Cockroach Janta Party earlier in the month. The ministry extended the deployment for a second time, showing that authorities considered the protest environment ongoing.

The deployment coincided with the October 23 march against SIR. Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were placed in large numbers near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Police later warned protesters to leave and detained some on Ashoka Road. The article gives no later decision about further extensions after October 31.

The protest affected public movement in central Delhi. Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory for diversions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and Jantar Mantar. Security was tightened around Bangla Sahib, where Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in large numbers before the march.

As the march moved toward the ECI headquarters, police stopped protesters on Ashoka Road. Officers warned them to vacate the premises. Protesters did not simply move away. They sat down and staged a sit-in. They also held a “People’s Parliament,” which organisers had announced in advance. The action kept the demonstration visible after the march was blocked.

Delhi Police began detaining protesters, and images or reports showed detained people being taken away in police vans. The article does not give the number detained, the duration of the traffic restrictions or any injuries. It records no final resolution beyond the detentions and the continuing sit-down action.

Public protests in India are protected by the constitutional freedom of peaceful assembly, but that freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions for public order, security and related concerns. Police and civil authorities may impose conditions, traffic diversions or area restrictions when legally authorised. The source reports warnings and detentions, but it does not identify the legal orders or sections used in this case.

Authorities can issue preventive directions under public-order laws, including the current Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure. Police may ask people to disperse when an assembly is unlawful or creates a legally recognised threat. Any arrest or detention should have a lawful ground, follow required procedure, and not be arbitrary. Arrested people must generally be told the grounds and presented before a magistrate within 24 hours, subject to limited exceptions.

Whether the Ashoka Road action complied with these rules would depend on the specific order, police conduct and facts. The report does not provide those details. A complete assessment therefore requires official records, detention grounds and any court proceedings.

Electoral rolls are the official lists of eligible voters for constituencies and polling stations. Election officials use them to verify who may cast a ballot. A person whose name is missing may be unable to vote, while an inaccurate or duplicate entry can weaken confidence in the process. Accurate rolls therefore connect citizens’ legal voting rights with actual participation.

Keeping rolls accurate requires adding newly eligible voters, correcting personal details and removing entries that no longer belong. Authorities may address duplicate records, deaths, changes of residence and eligibility questions. Voters usually need a way to check their names and seek inclusion or correction. These mechanisms make the list more dependable without treating every error as evidence of wrongdoing.

The Delhi protesters argue that SIR threatens the right to vote, while the article does not describe the revision’s detailed rules or evidence. That disagreement matters because roll changes can affect who participates. Transparent procedures, notice and opportunities to challenge decisions help protect both electoral access and public trust.