Kanchipuram Rail Roko Protest: Police Detain Demonstrators
Police and RPF detained protesters in Kanchipuram during a rail roko protest demanding the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Tension erupted in Kanchipuram on Wednesday as a massive rail roko protest near the old railway station led to the detention of several demonstrators. The agitation, aimed at demanding the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, caused significant disruption in the area for approximately an hour.
Chaos at the Old Railway Station
The demonstration was organized by members of the Jananayaka Meetpu Kuzhu, alongside participants from Makkal Mandram, the Communist Party of India, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. More than 350 protesters took part in a rally that moved from the vicinity of Hotel Tamil Nadu toward the East Railway Station.
As the marchers reached the station, a scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and security personnel. Despite the presence of police barricades, more than 50 protesters defied the lines and sat directly on the railway tracks, raising slogans against the Prime Minister and the Election Commission.
Allegations Against the Election Commission
The protesters staged the blockade to demand the immediate arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The activists leveled serious allegations against the official, claiming he acted in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by disqualifying approximately 13 crore voters.
The demonstrators accused the Election Commission of facilitating the systematic disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
Police Intervention and Detention
In response to the escalating tension, heavy deployments of local police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) were stationed throughout the area. Following the confrontation on the tracks, authorities successfully detained all the protesters. The individuals were subsequently moved from the station area to a private marriage hall.
Political Context and DMK Demands
The protest aligns with recent political movements in the state. On October 17, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Parliamentary Party, under the leadership of MK Stalin, passed a resolution calling for the immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and a formal inquiry into his conduct. The DMK has specifically raised concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with the party demanding:
- The immediate and complete scrapping of the SIR process.
- The use of pre-SIR electoral rolls for all upcoming elections.
- The discontinuation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in favor of traditional paper ballots to restore electoral trust.