India: End the crackdown on peaceful protests and release arbitrarily detained protesters
Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders and South Asians for Human Rights called on Indian authorities to release people arbitrarily detained during peaceful protests in New Delhi on 10 October 2026 and investigate abuses by security forces. The protests followed reports that a nationwide revision of electoral rolls had removed around 130 million names from voter lists, and called for the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner. Authorities reportedly deployed more than 50,000 police and security personnel, banned gatherings of more than five people, and imposed transport restrictions ahead of the demonstrations.
Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders a South Asians for Human Rights vyzvaly indické úřady k propuštění lidí zadržených při pokojných protestech a k vyšetření zásahů bezpečnostních sil. Protesty v Novém Dillí se konaly 10. října 2026 po zprávách, že z volebních seznamů bylo odstraněno přibližně 130 milionů jmen.
The brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in New Delhi over the last weekend is alarming with mass detention, unlawful use of force, the targeting of journalists, human rights defenders including lawyers, and internet shutdowns, said rights groups in a statement.
Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders and South Asians for Human Rights call on the Indian authorities to release everyone arbitrarily detained for the exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and ensure accountability for abuses by security forces.
On 10 October 2026, protests were called by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and backed by student groups calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, following reports that the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the election commission removed around 130 million names from voter lists.
Since the call for protests, authorities used Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to ban gatherings of more than five people. Ahead of the 10 October protest, more than 50,000 police and security personnel were reportedly deployed, some drawn from other states. Trains and buses to New Delhi were cancelled or suspended, metro train stations were closed, and the city’s borders were sealed to large vehicles. Anti-riot vehicles with tear gas launchers were stationed near protest sites.
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https://www.amnesty.nl/actueel/india-end-the-crackdown-on-peaceful-protests-and-release-arbitrarily-detained-protesters
