The UN human rights office said on October 10 that it was concerned by reports of mass detentions in India around the Delhi protests and called for the immediate and unconditional release of anyone arbitrarily detained.
The statement is careful in its wording. It speaks of reports, of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists, and it frames its asks in terms of necessity, proportionality and restraint.
The replies so far come from the political side. BJP president Nitin Nabin said that opposition groups were acting at the behest of foreign forces, according to PTI, and the Election Commission describes the SIR as routine and denies political interference.
The counts remain unsettled: hundreds according to PTI, more than 1,000 according to Al Jazeera, and higher numbers in live blogs that could not be confirmed.
Delhi Police has not publicly commented on the detentions, and the reports did not carry a government response to the UN statement.
It said that anyone arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.
It also urged meaningful dialogue to address the concerns that have been widely expressed.
Hundreds of protesters were detained as security forces stopped the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, from reaching Jantar Mantar, according to PTI.
Al Jazeera reported that more than 1,000 people were detained, and live blogs carried higher figures such as 5,000 and 7,000, which could not be confirmed.
The CJP is a Gen Z-led, satirical and unregistered movement that demands electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
It alleges manipulation of voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission describes the revision as routine and denies political interference, according to PTI.
The BJP also denies the allegations.
Delhi Police had refused permission for the protest, and the force has not publicly commented on the detentions, according to PTI.
Palais des Nations, Geneva (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0