New Delhi experienced renewed unrest as youth leaders vowed to persist with their protests following a series of detentions and a heavy security presence in the city. The unrest, which began over the weekend, saw activists and opposition figures detained ahead of planned demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.
Abhijeet Dipke, convener of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was among those taken into custody when their plane landed in Delhi on Saturday. He was released after close to 24 hours under a court order with an undertaking to maintain public peace. Upon release, Dipke sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling him “an embarrassment to India” and accusing him of being a “coward” and “bully.” Despite his temporary departure to his home state of Maharashtra due to a family bereavement, Dipke affirmed that the protest movement would continue.
Small-scale demonstrations were also reported in Mumbai, Kolkata, Panaji, and Pune. The All India Students’ Association alleged that detainees were assaulted by police while in custody, a claim contested by authorities. Video footage shared by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) depicted one detained lawmaker, John Brittas, appearing distressed as he was aided off a bus.
The Delhi police confirmed that roughly 2,400 individuals were detained on Saturday, with most released the same night. Security forces, including thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, remained deployed across the city to deter further large gatherings. Metro stations in New Delhi, which had been shut in anticipation of unrest, reopened and mobile internet services were restored.
India’s Supreme Court weighed in during a special holiday hearing, directing authorities to allow peaceful assemblies without unlawful detention, maintain communication services, and ensure metro operations proceed consistent with law and order. The bench, consisting of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan, also ordered a review of barricades and restrictions limiting access to key judicial buildings.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the mass detentions and called on Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest, urging restraint from law enforcement and the immediate release of those detained arbitrarily. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the UN’s comments as unwarranted interference, emphasizing that citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly are subject to public order and safety, and that actions by law enforcement comply with the law.
Protesters and opposition groups remain defiant amid the security clampdown, signaling continued demonstrations in the days ahead. Authorities maintain their focus on preserving public order while managing the ongoing tensions in the capital.