Before they could start their procession towards the renowned Ambedkar statue at Vidhana Soudha, police detained dozens of protestors who had assembled at Maurya Circle to ask for the removal of the police order confining rallies to Freedom Park. Many female demonstrators and students claimed that police officers had treated them aggressively.
Activists claim that the divisive Licencing and Management of Protests, Demonstrations, and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order severely restricts residents' ability to express their constitutional right to protest.
Among those taken into custody by the police were activists Mavalli Shankar from the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, Clifton D'Rozario from the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Maitreyi K from the All India Lawyers Association for Justice, and Labeed from the Solidarity Youth Movement.
Beneath the banner of Horatada Hakkigaagi Janandolana, the protesters, who had gathered at 11 am, waited at Maurya Circle until 1 pm awaiting Shekhar HT, DCP (crime), to make an appearance for negotiations. At that point, they were arrested.
On the occasion of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, a renowned proponent of nonviolent protests, the imprisoned demonstrators claimed that all they were asking for was the liberty of speech to express oneself, to congregate, and to protest—all rights granted by the Indian Constitution.
The DCP, arriving after 12:30 pm, informed the demonstrators that their requests would need to follow proper protocol before any modifications, such the lifting of the restricted order, could be made. However, the demonstrators said that it has been almost two months since they formally requested the removal of the "undemocratic" order from the chief minister and the police commissioner.
The DCP left after 30 minutes of discussion at the busy intersection, and the rest of the police, including the so-called "police kabaddi team that is deployed to gather up agitators," prepared for detaining the demonstrators. Before the demonstrators could leave Maurya Circle, they were packed onto two BMTC buses and sent to the Reserve Police Grounds on Mysuru Road, before being freed there, they were returned to the location about 4.30 p.m.
