The United Nations has called on Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release people arbitrarily detained during large-scale demonstrations in Delhi over alleged misconduct by electoral authorities.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over reports of mass detentions before and during the demonstrations.
The office said those reportedly detained included protesters, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists.
“We are concerned by reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists, before and during today’s large-scale demonstrations in Delhi,” the statement said.
The UN office urged the Indian authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly, stressing that any restrictions on peaceful protests must satisfy strict requirements of necessity and proportionality.
It also called on law enforcement agencies to exercise the utmost restraint in dealing with peaceful demonstrators, in accordance with India’s democratic traditions and human rights obligations.
The office further urged the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue to address the widespread concerns raised by the protesters.
The UN’s statement came amid ongoing demonstrations in Delhi against alleged misconduct by electoral authorities and reports of mass detentions linked to the protests.
