AISA Alleges Police Misconduct in Neha Bora Detention

The All India Students' Association (AISA) has alleged Delhi Police detained its national president, Neha Bora, in a private vehicle without an official number plate during a protest near Jantar Mantar on Sunday. The student body also claimed no female police officers were present during the detention, which occurred during a march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police have firmly denied the allegations, providing a conflicting official account of the incident.

AISA members stated Bora was picked up in a private vehicle and taken to an unknown location. She was later released at the Narela Industrial Area police station without her phone and bag. Visuals from the protest showed Bora attempting to climb over a barricade while police tried to stop her.

Police refute allegations with official account

Delhi Police countered the claims, stating Neha Bora was detained in a government vehicle with two female officers present. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma provided the official version. "Neha Bora was detained in a government vehicle with two female staff at the back and was released also," DCP Sachin Sharma said. The police have labeled AISA's allegations as baseless. A senior officer added that some protesters had attacked police personnel and even bit them during the clashes.

Broader context of election-related agitation

The protest was part of a larger, sustained agitation across cities targeting alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's functioning. Demonstrators have raised concerns over the conduct of the Summary Revision (SIR) exercise and mass deletions of voters from the rolls. Activists attempted to return to Jantar Mantar for the third consecutive day. The Election Commission itself has asserted that differing views are normal in institutional deliberations and that all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures. However, an investigation claimed Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the last ten months to decisions and orders on the SIR issued without their knowledge or recommendation.

Escalating protest actions and police response

The fresh mobilisation in Delhi on Sunday followed major police action over the preceding two days. The scale of detentions and police deployment has been significant.

Police deployed around 5,000 personnel, including the Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary units, in view of two protest marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar. Several roads were barricaded, and access to some metro stations in the vicinity was temporarily restricted. Protesters and security personnel clashed briefly as police prevented them from crossing barricades. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bhardwaj, detained while marching towards India Gate, accused police of manhandling him during his detention. The protest mobilisation began from Andhra Bhawan Circle on Ashoka Road and proceeded toward Jantar Mantar amid heavy security. The ongoing demonstrations continue to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid institutional disputes over election administration procedures.