Story perspectives

Delhi Police Detain 50-60 Protesters at Jantar Mantar

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Arrests Called Democracy Murder

On September 25, 2026, Delhi police in the capital detained about 50-60 protesters at Jantar Mantar and nearby the Election Commission.
General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said the arrests attacked dissent, calling them a ‘murder of democracy’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Home Ministry told forces to avoid pellet guns, allowing lathis, tear gas or water cannons.

Right

Fake Protest Footage

On September 25, 2026, Delhi police detained about 50-60 protesters at Jantar Mantar and additional demonstrators near the Election Commission.
Police announced that a widely shared video of the Jantar Mantar protest was old footage and cautioned the public against spreading misinformation.
The All India Students' Association, the CPI(ML) Liberation student wing, organized the rally demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and arrest.

Blindspot

The Union Home Ministry instructed Delhi security forces to refrain from using pellet guns and to employ lathis, tear-gas or water-cannon devices for crowd control.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In June 1975 President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s advice, proclaimed a national Emergency that suspended civil liberties and enabled police to detain opponents without trial. The crackdown saw over 100,000 activists and journalists arrested under laws such as MISA, a pattern echoed in September 2026 when Delhi police, following Home Ministry orders, surrounded Jantar Mantar and detained dozens of protesters.

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Arrests Called Democracy Murder

On September 25, 2026, Delhi police in the capital detained about 50-60 protesters at Jantar Mantar and nearby the Election Commission.
General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said the arrests attacked dissent, calling them a ‘murder of democracy’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Home Ministry told forces to avoid pellet guns, allowing lathis, tear gas or water cannons.

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