UN Voices Concern Over Mass Detentions in Delhi

New Delhi: The United Nations Human Rights Office on Saturday expressed concern over reports of mass detentions ahead of and during protests in Delhi, urging the Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and exercise restraint while dealing with demonstrators.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the office was concerned over reports that protesters, civil society activists, lawyers and journalists had been detained before and during the large-scale demonstrations in the national capital.

The protests were organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

The UN Human Rights Office said restrictions on peaceful demonstrations must meet strict standards of necessity and proportionality.

It urged Indian authorities to ensure that law enforcement personnel exercised utmost restraint while responding to peaceful protesters, in keeping with the country's democratic traditions and international human rights obligations.

The office also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained.

It urged the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with protesters to address the concerns raised during the demonstrations.

The statement came amid widespread detentions and heightened security restrictions across Delhi, where police had denied permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar.

Several protesters, political leaders, journalists and activists were detained as security personnel blocked access to the protest venue and imposed restrictions on movement in parts of the city.