FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Botched attempt Houthi attack on Riyadh airport kills 12, injures 309 Abhishek Sharma’s fireworks lift India to 223 PERSPECTIVE India’s vanishing villages Page 11 Page 16 Page 9 Page 8 Dozens detained on Day 2 of protests PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 11 October T he CJP-led protest demanding the resignation of Chief E l e c t i o n Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar entered its second day on Sunday, with Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and paramilitary personnel detaining demonstrators attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar from Connaught Place and Rajiv Chowk amid allegations of police brutality and restrictions on peaceful assembly. CPI-M MP John Brittas was among those detained as protesters gathered in small groups across central Delhi, raising slogans against Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Brittas, who was also detained during Saturday's demonstration, was taken away by a heavy police contingent while addressing the press. The CPI(M) subsequently claimed on X that he had been injured and Monday, 12 October 2026 SPORTS WORLD EDITORIAL | appeared distressed. Protesters were heard shouting “Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do” (Gyanesh Kumar, resign) as security personnel moved in to stop them from proceeding towards the designated protest site. Videos showed some demonstrators being dragged towards police buses, while several detainees alleged that they had been manhandled. The Cockroach Janta Party (C JP), which called the demonstration along with Left student organisations, accused the authorities of using extensive security arrangements and mass detentions to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. The agitation has drawn student activists and opposition leaders, with demonstrators vowing to continue their campaign despite repeated police action. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) alleged that its All India president, Adarsh M Saji, Delhi state secretary Sooraj Elamon, Central Executive Committee member Abhijith Manilal and hundreds of other activists were attacked and detained while attempting to reach the protest site from Rajiv Chowk. “In the video, you can see blood coming out of Adarsh’s forehead. These will not be forgotten. We will keep coming out on the streets. The protests will be multiplied in all corners of the country!” the SFI said in a statement. The SFI further alleged that hundreds of activists had been detained at Surajmal Stadium in Nangloi and subjected to harassment inside cramped, cage-like police vehicles. It also claimed that some of its leaders were detained at Connaught Place, beaten and subsequently taken towards the Haryana border. The All India Students' Association (AISA) also accused Delhi Police of using force against demonstrators, alleging that officers seized mobile phones and assaulted protesters inside detention vehicles. “Delhi Police grave illegality will be fought and exposed. We demand the violence on detainees to be stopped immediately,” AISA said in a statement. CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka criticised the security arrangements, alleging that the authorities had fortified central Delhi to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar, a designated protest venue. “Result - There are now 50 different Jantar Mantars in and around Central Delhi,” Ranka posted on X, sarcastically congratulating Delhi Police for what he described as another failure to contain the agitation. The confrontation follows Saturday's extensive security operation, during which CJP activists Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ranka were detained. Several Opposition leaders, including AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the protest. SC bars unlawful detentions, orders normal services, seeks Delhi govt reply on contempt PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 10 October The Supreme Court on Sunday issued notice to the BJP-led Delhi government seeking its reply on why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against it over the closure of Metro stations during the 10 October protests demanding the ouster of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A special bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana directed the authorities to file a short affidavit responding to the contempt petition and submit a compliance report on implementation of the court’s earlier directions, issued on 9 October, concerning public transport and movement during the protests. In a slew of directions, the court ordered that Metro and railway services should function normally, subject to regulatory measures necessitated by public-order considerations. It said movement across the city should not be obstructed except through traffic regulation, directed an immediate review of road barricades and ordered that internet services remain undisturbed, subject to statutory powers available to the authorities. The bench further directed that there should be no unlawful detention and that peaceful assembly should be permitted outside areas where restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the erstwhile Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, were in operation. Justice Mohana also reminded those supporting the protests of their responsibility to ensure peaceful demonstrations. “All of you present here, if you are seriously interested in public welfare, please undertake that you will all protest peacefully and not instigate any other person,” she said. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan agreed, while seeking a corresponding assurance from the authorities. The court also ordered removal of a board outside the Supreme Court announcing imposition of Section 163 BNSS in the vicinity, observing that citizens and lawyers should not be impeded in accessing the court. India rejects OHCHR’s Rahul announces march remarks on protests to Supreme Court today Islamabad suspends Khyber govt amid PTI protest march STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE DAWN/ANN New Delhi, 11 October Islamabad, 11 October The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday announced that the Congress and other Opposition parties, along with young people, civil society groups and citizens committed to democracy, would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, 12 October, to protest against alleged “vote chori,” renewing demands for a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In a message posted on the social media platform X, Gandhi said the march would bring together Indians across party affiliations, gender, caste, community and state boundaries, describing it as a collective effort to defend Pakistan’s federal government on Sunday imposed an Emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the president’s approval of the recommendations by the federal cabinet. Following the imposition, internet disruptions were being reported from parts of Peshawar, with Dawn unable to contact its correspondents there. Earlier in the day, massive police deployment and increased barriers on certain routes using containers were witnessed in the city. According to sources in the telecom sector, mobile network and data services have been slowed or shut down in selected areas of some cities. The decision to impose the provisions came during an emergency meeting of the New Delhi, 11 October India on Sunday rejected the remarks of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on mass detentions in the ongoing protests, saying they constitute an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of this country. “India is the world’s largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by our Constitution and safeguarded by robust institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media. As in every democracy, Indian citizens exercise this right subject to the maintenance of public order and safety. Our law enforcement authorities act strictly in accordance with the law, and our courts remain available to all for the redressal of any grievances,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said the OHCHR’s concerns were unwarranted and constituted an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India. The MEA also noted that the OHCHR has an approach of extreme selectivity when it comes to public positions. ‘’Violent responses to protests in our neighbourhood have gone uncommented, as indeed have law enforcement actions in its own vicinity. Such double standards only erode the credibility of its standing and contribute to the loss of faith in multilateralism,’’ it said, alluding to the protests in various parts of neighbouring Pakistan. The OHCHR earlier said it was concerned by reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists, before and during the demonstrations in Delhi. Tension grips three Manipur hill districts as clashes toll rises to 9 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Imphal, 11 October A tense situation prevailed in three hill district of Manipur ~ Kamjong, Ukhrul, and Kangpokpi ~ on Sunday as the death toll in a fresh round of clashes involving Naga and Kuki communities increased to nine, including a woman. According to officials, the deaths were reported on Friday and Saturday. Among them include six Nagas, two Kukis, and a Gorkha farmer, making the latest outbreak one of the deadliest episodes of violence in Manipur this year. However, no incidents were reported on Sunday in the three hill districts. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has instructed the authorities concerned to take immediate and effective steps to tackle the situation, restore peace and order, and ensure the safety and security of all citizens. Also, he has appealed to public leaders and civil society organisations of different communities to come forward, exercise restraint, and cooperate in defusing the situation. He urged all sections of society to prioritise peace, dialogue, and harmony. Officials said that security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces personnel and Manipur Police, have intensified patrolling and search operations in the three violence-hit districts to prevent further escalation. The latest violence erupted after a 42-year-old woman was killed in Chassad village in Kamjong district on Friday night. Although the district has a predominantly Naga population, Chassad is a Kuki-majority village. Her killing triggered an exchange of fire between armed groups belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities, which continued on Saturday. A 23-year-old man was also killed, and 10 houses were set ablaze during the clashes. In a separate incident in Kangpokpi district on Saturday, suspected militants attacked Tapon and Makui villages, killing three people, including two Naga village guards. A Naga civil society organisation also claimed that a 52-year-old villager had been beheaded by militants. In another attack, suspected militants opened fire in Ningchou village, a Tangkhul Naga settlement near the India-Myanmar border in Kamjong district, killing two people. In Ukhrul district, a 40-year-old man, identified as Sandeep Rai, died near Chepu Yaolen after suspected militants allegedly opened fire on his vehicle. democracy and uphold the Constitution. He said a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Justice of India on behalf of the nation, pressing for action on the Opposition’s demands concerning electoral integrity. “Yesterday, the nation's young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. "This is not the India we want,” he asserted, alleging that police personnel and individuals he described as BJP supporters had assaulted the young protesters. Emphasising the non-partisan character of the proposed demonstration, he said, “Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state.” He called on young people, Opposition parties, civil society organisations and all those who believed in democracy and stood by the Constitution to join the march. federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he was briefed on the security situation in KP. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said cabinet members reviewed the situation and took note of the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”. A couple of hours after the decision was announced, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, who had been accompanying Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on the PTI’s long march, claimed that the KP CM had been taken into custody. The emergency imposition comes a day after PM Shehbaz met President Zardari amid heightened tensions between the PML-N-led federal government and the KP government led by the PTI — which is in opposition in the Centre. They have been at odds over various issues, particularly on the counterterrorism policy, which was one of the main reasons behind the breakdown of their 3 October talks. Modi pledges to work with CM Vijay for development & progress of Tamil Nadu STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chennai, 11 October Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travel in a metro during the inauguration of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase-2, in Chennai on Sunday. @NARENDRAMODI X/ANI PHOTO Pledging to work with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay for the development and progress of Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he knew the expectations of a chief minister and a state very well. “Together with Joseph Vijay and working together, we will take forward Tamil Nadu’s development,” Mr Modi, flanked by Vijay on the dais, said after launching completed projects and laying the foundation for new ones, totalling Rs 13,000 crore, at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) here. This is the first time that Mr Modi shared the stage with Mr Vijay after the latter assumed office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The PM termed the launching of the development projects as a historic day for Tamil Nadu. “As a CM, I know well what are the expectations of a state and as Prime Minister, keeping the progress of the nation has been the core of my heart,” he said, recalling his relationship with previous Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. “Governments have changed but development of Tamil Nadu remains unchanged,” he said. On his quarter century in public service, Mr Modi said “With your (people) love and support, I have completed 25 years of service with faith in democracy through the guiding light of people of the country first and then cooperative federalism, keeping the nation’s progress at the core of my heart.” His motto, Mr Modi said, is to strengthen states to make the country a powerhouse and Tamil Nadu as a manufacturing hub remain an engine of growth for the nation. “The country is the second largest mobile manufacturer with electronics exports remaining at18 percent and Defence export touching 50 percent,” he said. Mr Modi, who earlier, had a ride with Vijay at the inaugural run of the expanded Metro Rail service to suburban Poonamallee, also underscored the importance of enhanced public transport as the engine of urbanisation.