More than 700 protesters were detained in Delhi on Friday during demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities related to the electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The AAP, Congress and Left-linked groups were among those participating in the protest at Jantar Mantar. Senior AAP leaders, including Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, were detained by the police.

Police had denied permission for the demonstration and imposed restrictions in the New Delhi district. According to police, the protesters were taken to different police stations outside the New Delhi area and were to be released after necessary paperwork and legal formalities.

Why are protesters targeting Gyanesh Kumar?

The demonstrations have centred on the Election Commission and the SIR exercise, which has involved the revision of electoral rolls and the removal of voters described in the report as “inactive”.

The demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to several decisions taken by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has denied wrongdoing in the SIR process and said that differing views among election commissioners are normal.

Protests in Mumbai

In Mumbai, the Cockroach Janta Party held a large demonstration at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the rally.

Thousands of people gathered at the venue, with police deploying additional personnel and putting up barricades on routes leading from nearby areas. Protesters carried the national flag and placards demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

The protest was held on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed the gathering and described the demonstration as a tribute to Gandhi.

Protests reported in other cities

Apart from Delhi and Mumbai, demonstrations were also reported in Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

In Jaipur, AAP workers protested over the SIR process and clashed with police, according to the report. Senior party leaders later submitted a memorandum to the governor.

A demonstration was also held outside Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, with protesters demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot injured during an alleged attack by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight, spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday from his hospital bed.

During the video call, PM Modi praised Captain Machchhar for his actions during the incident and said that despite being seriously injured, he had remained focused on protecting the passengers.

“You had such a big wound on your body, you yourself were fighting for life and death. At that time, you did not care for your life, you cared for the lives of all the travellers,” PM Modi told the pilot, according to the report.

The incident occurred aboard a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to the earlier report, the co-pilot allegedly tried to sabotage the aircraft before stabbing Captain Machchhar, who fought back and opened the cockpit door.

This allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker. Two other relief pilots who were seated at the back subsequently took control of the aircraft and diverted it to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Captain Machchhar sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital after the aircraft landed. PM Modi had also spoken to his wife and parents on Thursday and assured them that Indian missions would provide all possible assistance to the family.

The flydubai pilot has been praised by PM Modi and other officials for his actions during the emergency. PM Modi had described Captain Machchhar as a “hero” and said his courage helped avert a major tragedy.

The latest conversation took place as Captain Machchhar continued recovering in hospital following the cockpit attack.

The Election Commission has directed election authorities to launch a special enrolment drive for voters whose names were left out during or after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 20 states and Union territories.

The Commission said SIR has already been completed in 20 states and UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal. It has asked Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers to facilitate the enrolment of eligible voters through the process of continuous updation.

The move also covers young and first-time voters who are eligible for inclusion in the electoral rolls.

How left-out voters can seek inclusion

According to the Election Commission, a person whose name was left out during SIR or thereafter can approach the concerned Electoral Registration Officer for inclusion in the electoral roll under the continuous updation process.

The Commission has directed the respective election officials to immediately begin a special drive to facilitate enrolment of such electors.

The initiative is also intended to provide an enrolment route for eligible young and first-time voters.

Goa example cited by Election Commission

The Election Commission cited steps taken in Goa as an example of efforts to reach voters who were left out.

It said the Chief Electoral Officer in Goa had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits to left-out voters to collect their forms. According to the Commission, 81 of 97 voters had already filled Form 6 for inclusion.

The Commission said the special drive follows its September 26 meeting and has the approval of the full Commission.

The ECI has also said that the final figure of electors will be known only after the final publication of electoral rolls in the remaining 12 states covered under Phase III of SIR.