Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge Orders Review of Bengaluru Police Action Against Protesters

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday announced that he would conduct a formal review of the Bengaluru police’s handling of demonstrators who were detained a day earlier. The move follows reports that police forcibly removed anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protesters near KR Circle on Monday and reportedly manhandled several journalists covering the event.The controversy emerged after a group named 'My Vote, My Right' attempted to march to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer to demand the scrapping of the SIR electoral roll process and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The detained group included a mix of students, lawyers, academics, activists, and senior citizens. Witnesses and members of the activist group alleged that police personnel, including those in plainclothes, used aggressive tactics, including pushing and dragging protesters, and confiscated placards before the march could proceed.Reports of violence extended to members of the media, with claims that photojournalists were physically assaulted while documenting the detentions. According to an account from a witness, one photojournalist was allegedly beaten by four officers, had his phone seized, and was threatened with jail time after he refused to delete footage of police actions inside a bus. Other journalists also reported being manhandled during the scuffle.Addressing the incident on social media, Kharge stated that the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to a democracy and must be protected rather than suppressed. He confirmed that he had issued specific instructions to the police to ensure that future peaceful demonstrations are not disrupted. "Our responsibility is not merely to maintain law and order, but to create an environment where every citizen can express dissent freely, peacefully and without fear," Kharge added.The government's intervention followed a public appeal from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also directed the Bengaluru police commissioner to investigate the matter and ensure the protection of the right to peaceful protest. The incident had drawn significant attention after criticism was raised on social media platforms, including by faculty members from Ashoka University whose relatives were among those detained.On Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Akshay M Hakay provided the police department's perspective, noting that the protesters had assembled near KR Circle without the necessary permissions. He stated that the group had failed to comply with police requests to move to the city's designated protest site at Freedom Park, leading to their preventive custody. Regarding the friction with journalists, Hakay characterized the events as "completely unintentional" and occurring under "straining circumstances," insisting that police acted with restraint and sensitivity.Moving forward, Kharge has called for a balance between maintaining order and respecting civil liberties. He also appealed to protest organizers to cooperate with authorities by providing advance information to help ensure the safety of participants and the general public. As the state government initiates its review, the incident has sparked broader conversations regarding the protocols used by law enforcement when managing demonstrations in urban spaces.