Odisha farmer leader and Navnirman Krushak Sangathan founder Akshaya Kumar and Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan (NYCS) convenor MD Manwar Alli were among those detained during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 11, according to organisers.
The padyatra was led by Balakrishna Shukla, National Joint Secretary of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Akshaya Kumar and MD Manwar Alli. The organisers said around 500 students, leaders of various organisations and members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) participated in the protest.
Organisers allege police used force
According to the organisers, Delhi Police used force to stop the padyatra and detained the three leaders along with around 500 students and members of different organisations.
The organisers described the action as an attempt to prevent participants from carrying out what they characterised as a peaceful protest.
The allegations regarding the use of force and the circumstances of the detentions could not be independently verified from the material available at the time of publication.
Akshaya Kumar, MD Manwar Alli among detained leaders
Akshaya Kumar is the founder of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, while MD Manwar Alli is the convenor of the Odisha-based Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan.
Both organisations have previously organised protests in Odisha over farmers’ and students’ issues. Recent reporting has also documented Navnirman Krushak Sangathan-led agitations in Odisha.
The October 11 protest in Delhi brought together representatives of farmer, youth and student organisations, according to the organisers.
Leaders condemn police action
Following the detentions, the organisers condemned the police action and described it as “undemocratic” and “dictatorial”.
They expressed concern over the detention of students, activists and representatives of different organisations who, they said, had gathered to exercise their right to peaceful protest.
The organisers called for attention to what they described as the need to protect the right to peaceful assembly and democratic dissent.
Details regarding the sections invoked by police, the number of people formally arrested or detained and their subsequent release were not available in the statement issued by NYCS.