Protests in India continue as police investigate harassment allegations

Protests demanding the resignation of India’s chief election commissioner continued for a third day on Sunday, while police in New Delhi opened an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by officers during an earlier demonstration. The protests began on Friday over a large voter-roll revision that demonstrators say removed millions of names. The Election Commission of India has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.

Gyanesh Kumar, the commission’s chief, has not publicly commented, according to the supplied report. Thousands of people marched in Mumbai on Sunday, carrying Indian flags and calling for Kumar to step down. Participants included supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical online movement launched in May that previously campaigned for the removal of an education minister.

The party’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, called for solidarity with protesters in a social media post and urged Indians to unite. The group has also called for a large mobilisation of young people in New Delhi on October 10. In the capital, several dozen activists gathered outside a police station to demand action over allegations arising from Saturday’s protest.

Delhi police said three female journalists had accused officers of sexual harassment and promised a “fair and impartial enquiry”. One complainant said in a video posted online that an officer had pushed her and touched her inappropriately. A CJP activist said a delegation accompanying the woman had entered the police station, while Dipke called for the accused officer to be arrested immediately.

Opposition politicians have accused the Election Commission of acting in the interests of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. They plan to march to the commission in New Delhi on Tuesday and organise “Save Democracy” rallies across the country, according to the report.