Delhi Police Register FIRs Amid Anti-CEC Protests; US Lawmakers Raise Concerns

The Delhi Police have registered at least 10 First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with alleged assaults on protesters during ongoing demonstrations in the national capital. This action followed sustained pressure from citizens, activists, and media organisations. Specific cases include an FIR registered at Connaught Place police station on October 13, 2026, where one accused, Gaurav, was arrested, with CCTV footage being examined. Additionally, four individuals were arrested on October 11, 2026, at Kamla Market police station under Sections 115(2), 126(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after a video allegedly showing assault and harassment, including of a minor girl, went viral.

Amidst these developments, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was placed under preventive arrest ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday, October 16, 2026. All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also preventively detained the same day. While Ms. Bora was released early Saturday, October 17, 2026, after formal procedures under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, Mr. Dipke was produced before the Special Executive Magistrate Court (SEM) on October 17, 2026, facing action under Section 126/170 of the BNSS. CJP’s legal head, Ratna Singh, alleged delays in Mr. Dipke’s bail hearing at the SEM court. The Delhi Police also registered at least two FIRs for violations of prohibitory orders under 163 BNSS imposed in Connaught Place during the October 16 march.

Further protest activities on October 17, 2026, included women's groups marching to the Delhi Police Headquarters over alleged violence during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protests, and women protesters gathering near Bangla Sahib gurudwara to protest alleged sexual harassment. Internationally, six U.S. Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the alleged excessive use of force during student protests in India with his Indian counterparts. These congresspersons also accused the Indian Embassy and consulates in American cities of deploying photographers for surveillance of CJP supporters. Mr. Rubio is scheduled to visit India next week and meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai.

Looking ahead, various farmers’ organisations, under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), plan a march to Delhi on October 23, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Politically, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal responded to Union minister Rajnath Singh's "regime change" charge on Saturday, October 17, 2026, asserting that the people themselves desire a change in regime.

What to watch: The upcoming SKM march and Marco Rubio's visit to India.

Editor's note: The draft is comprehensive, covers all relevant facts, names, and dates, and maintains a professional tone throughout.