The UN human rights office said on October 10 that it was concerned by reports of mass detentions in India.
It said that protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists were among those detained.
It asked authorities to release anyone arbitrarily detained immediately and unconditionally.
It also asked police to show utmost restraint.
The reports did not carry a government response.
The UN human rights office said on Saturday, October 10, 2026, that it was concerned by reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists.
The statement was made by UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan in Geneva, according to The Tribune, which carried a PTI report.
The concern covered people detained both before and during the demonstrations in Delhi.
The office said that authorities must respect and fully fulfil the right to peaceful assembly.
It said that any restrictions on peaceful protest must meet the tests of necessity and proportionality.
It asked law enforcement to show utmost restraint towards peaceful protesters.
It said that anyone arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.
It also urged meaningful dialogue to address the concerns that have been widely expressed.
Hundreds of protesters were detained as security forces stopped the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, from reaching Jantar Mantar, according to PTI.
Al Jazeera reported that more than 1,000 people were detained, and live blogs carried higher figures such as 5,000 and 7,000, which could not be confirmed.
The CJP is a Gen Z-led, satirical and unregistered movement that demands electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
It alleges manipulation of voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission describes the revision as routine and denies political interference, according to PTI.
Palais des Nations, Geneva (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
