500 march against SIR in Bengaluru, allege curbs on right to protest
Mangalore Today News Network
Bengaluru, Oct 24, 2026: Around 500 people marched from Town Hall to Freedom Park on Friday to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The march began amid heated exchanges between protesters and police over restrictions on placards and flags.
The march brought together participants of different age groups, from students to senior citizens. It was organised by several groups, including My Vote, My Right, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Eddelu Karnataka and the All India Students Association (AISA).
Police repeatedly announced that permission had been granted only for a Tiranga march. “Under the High Court order, you’re not allowed to raise slogans and placards outside Freedom Park. If they don’t cooperate and continue to protest at Town Hall, we will have to detain them,” said Akshay M. Hakay, DCP (Bengaluru Central).
During the three-kilometre march, protesters raised slogans such as “Jai Bheem”, “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod” and “Inquilab Zindabad”. They also raised slogans in Kannada targeting the BJP government, with the SIR remaining the central issue.
“We are here as citizens of India to defend our right to vote. I’m fighting against SIR for the future of my child in this country,” said Akthar, a 35-year-old homemaker who attended the protest with her four-year-old child.
Around 230 police personnel were deployed to maintain security.
Several flash protests were also held across Bengaluru ahead of the march, including in Anandpuram, Jayanagar 9th Block, near the Brigade War Memorial, Cooke Town and Central Street. The demonstrations were organised by trade unions, residents’ groups, climate activists and lawyers’ organisations.
Protest restrictions draw criticism
The march followed nearly 24 hours of negotiations between the organisers and police before permission was granted. Activists alleged that the restrictions imposed at Town Hall reflected growing curbs on public demonstrations.
“We were very clear to the police that this march would happen even without permission. We are not scared of getting detained,” said Noor Sridhar, an activist and Eddelu Karnataka functionary.
He said the organisers were eventually permitted to hold a Tiranga march ending at Freedom Park, where protests against the SIR could be held.
Some protesters also carried placards questioning Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Hina, a law student, alleged that police tore down a Kannada poster questioning whether the right to protest belonged only to the Chief Minister. Student Ekta alleged that placards highlighting police excesses were forcibly taken away.
“Every kind of religious procession is allowed freely in this city under police protection. Why can’t police offer protection for people raising their voice against injustice?” asked Janaki Nair, a retired history professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.