Bengaluru, Oct 12 (PTI) Several protesters were detained on Monday as they attempted to march towards the Karnataka CEO’s office here, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.
The protesters also accused the police of “manhandling” them and photojournalists during the crackdown.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Akshay M Hakay said that police acted with due restraint and sensitivity in the prevailing circumstances.
He also acknowledged friction between media and police personnel, but said it was “unintentional” and occurred under “strained circumstances.”
The protesters alleged that Bengaluru police personnel misbehaved with women.
They also condemned the alleged treatment meted to protesters by Delhi Police.
Activists from various groups, including women and students, who joined the protest against the SIR exercise, were detained by Bengaluru Police near KR Circle and outside the CEO’s office here and taken away in buses.
They demanded that the entire SIR process be scrapped.
Some videos circulating on social media purportedly showed photojournalists being manhandled when they rushed to cover the police action against the protesters. Some police personnel also allegedly tried to snatch their cameras, and during the commotion, a mobile phone belonging to one of the video journalists fell down and broke.
The protesters also alleged that police personnel “misbehaved with women and pulled off their clothes”.
Taking to the social media platform ‘X’, DCP (Central) Hakay said that a group of protesters had suddenly assembled near KR Circle without permission or prior intimation.
“This is contrary to the High Court’s directions to hold protests at designated places. Initially, they were requested to relocate to Freedom Park, but they did not comply and were hence taken into preventive custody in accordance with the law and subsequently released,” he said.
The DCP said police acted with due restraint and sensitivity in the prevailing circumstances.
“However, we are also aware of the instance of frictional interaction between media reporters and police staff. I would hereby like to clarify that it was completely unintentional, and it happened in straining circumstances,” he said.
Bengaluru Police urged everyone to comply with the High Court’s directions and conduct peaceful protests only at Freedom Park while respecting public convenience and maintaining order, he said.
“We stand with all citizens for their security,” he added.
In a statement, activist group My Vote, My Right said that lawyers, students, activists and academics gathered to begin a peaceful march to the CEO’s office. However, before a single placard was held up, Bangalore City Police confiscated the placards and began detaining people, it alleged.
From students to senior citizens, the police dragged, pushed and forcefully detained the people who had not even begun to walk, the group alleged.
While being detained on a bus, a woman protester was seen in a video describing Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as a “hypocrite.”
She questioned why he was protesting against the Election Commission in Delhi alongside Rahul Gandhi, while protesters in Bengaluru were allegedly being prevented from marching towards the CEO’s office. PTI AMP KH
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