Protests were held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday (October 2), demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Members of several political parties, along with student groups including AISA, SFI and NSUI, joined the demonstration. To control the situation, internet services were ordered to be suspended from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. within Jantar Mantar and an area covering about 1.5 kilometres around it.

According to Hindustan Times, telecom operators including Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea were instructed to suspend services in the designated area.

Police said the protesters had not obtained permission for the demonstration. Around 700 protesters have reportedly been detained so far.

Internet services were also suspended in parts of Delhi during protests in July over alleged irregularities in a medical entrance examination.

Ashik/M.