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

Samyukt Kisan Morcha and ‘People Against SIR’ platform are protesting nationwide; various trade unions and civil society organisations have pledged support to the farmers’ march

Updated - October 23, 2026 05:05 pm IST

Police detain members of different organisations as they stage a protest against the SIR and CEC Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on October 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

A march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was halted by police in central Delhi on Friday (October 23, 2026), as participants sought to head towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters to protest against the alleged deletion of voters.

The march, called by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR — a people’s collective — started near Gole Dak Khana, at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg.

ALSO READ | Farm outfits write to President demanding CEC’s Gyanesh Kumar resignation

The nationwide protests are demanding the removal and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat slammed the Modi govt. during the protest march against the SIR process, saying, “Let the Modi government sign a peace bond that it will stop the attack on the right to vote, stop the attack on the Constitution, stop SIR, and ensure the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.”

Security Personnel detain Members of different organisations as they stage a protest against Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on October 23, 2026.

When police stopped the protesters, they sat down and held a ‘People’s Parliament’, as announced by the organisers.

“This is not about reclaiming Jantar Mantar; this is about saving democracy and the country,” a protester said.

Members of different organisations stage a protest against Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on October 23, 2026.

The Delhi police is detaining protesters on Ashoka Road, after issuing warnings to them to vacate the protest sites

The march to ECI, called by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR — a people’s collective — started near Gole Dak Khana, at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg.

Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) have extended their support to the protest, with activists from Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh participating as well.

Security was tightened near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, with Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed in large numbers ahead of the march.

The organisers have appealed to farmers, workers, youth, women and people from different sections of society to join the march carrying the national flag.

The Union Home Ministry has extended for the second time the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in the national capital till October 31 in view of the possibility of “flash protests” by political and other groups, official sources said on Friday.

The companies were brought to Delhi for the protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) earlier this month.

Protestors, who were stopped at Ashoka Road, are now staging a sit down

Delhi protest ashoka road oct 23 2026.jpeg

Ahead of the protest, the Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory stating that there will be diversions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and Jantar Mantar.

Published - October 23, 2026 01:18 pm IST

Delhi / Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls / protest / Election Commission of India / India / Live news

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