Protesters from Haryana — including university students, older residents, and women — gathered at demonstrations in New Delhi, calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down and for an inquiry into reported voting irregularities.
A 24-year-old Kurukshetra University student from Jind, identified as Madhu, travelled to Delhi with a group that included a fellow student enrolled at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak. According to her account, the group lodged at A.K. The venue scheduled for the gathering was Gopalan Bhawan, with the event set to run across three days beginning on 9 October and concluding on 11 October.
Madhu told authorities that roughly 400 personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary units had been positioned outside the building, and that she and others were held in place upon stepping out. She stated that the location where they were held had no access to potable water or toilet facilities.
According to her account, female demonstrators had their hair grabbed as they were physically forced into waiting vehicles. Madhu alleged that male officers behaved inappropriately toward female students, and that female officers on duty were not permitted to intervene. Her allegations extended to specific individuals she named as having ties to organisations linked to BJP and RSS, whom she held responsible for attacks on protest participants.
Madhu described accountability across areas such as education, job creation, and democratic institutions as a priority for younger generations. Among the demands she voiced was one calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to vacate their respective offices.
Suman Lauchhab, who hails from Bhupania village in Jhajjar district, travelled to Delhi alongside a group of five companions — Jyoti, Sheela, Santosh, Reena, and Sudesh. She stated that phone calls to her relatives asking whether she planned to take part in the demonstration left her with the impression that authorities might block her from leaving the country.
Suman described the push for the Chief Election Commissioner to step down as warranted, while also pressing for an independent inquiry into the reported voting irregularities. Her account described female demonstrators being physically handled — pulled by their hair and limbs — and subjected to assault.
A resident of Rohtak identified as Sehawat claimed that women at the demonstration were loaded onto buses against their will and transported away from the location. According to her account, demonstrators sought to convey their grievances through non-confrontational means but met with physical force in response.
Mukhtari Jakhar, an 83-year-old widow of Ram Singh Jakhar, who had fought for India's independence, voiced unease over the allegations. She described peaceful protest as a democratic right and urged that questions surrounding alleged voting irregularities be examined through an independent review process.
Rathi, an 85-year-old army veteran, told reporters he had watched police handle protesters at close range and raised questions about how those individuals were being treated.
Sunaina Chautala, who leads the INLD's women's wing at the state level, put on record her account of how female students and demonstrators had been treated. Her remarks centred on three demands: that protections for women's safety and dignity be strengthened, that complaints from women receive proper attention, and that clear lines of accountability be drawn for any misconduct that occurred.
A formal statement of condemnation over the reported arrests and physical incidents on 10 and 11 October was issued by Haryana's state-level chapter of the All India Democratic Women's Association, with Savita serving as president and Usha Saroha holding the post of general secretary. According to the organisation, a number of women affiliated with SFI were taken into custody at a flag march in Connaught Place and subsequently subjected to physical mistreatment by male officers, leaving several with injuries. The statement further noted that women held in custody were transported by bus without any female officers present, and that their personal devices were confiscated. A formal request for an independent inquiry was submitted, along with calls for accountability directed at those found to be at fault.
A number of those held in custody put forward allegations that officers resorted to physical force, withheld basic amenities, and behaved improperly toward detainees. Sonipat Municipal Corporation Mayor Rajiv Jain, who holds a BJP affiliation, told reporters that law enforcement personnel are obligated to act whenever any individual breaches legal boundaries.
Inderjit Singh, serving as national vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha, counted himself among the participants connected to the protests.