Left parties, student and youth groups stage protest against CEC in Kalaburagi

CPI(M) district secretary K. Neela falls on the railway platform during a scuffle between protesters and the police at Kalaburagi railway station on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

Members of Left parties and student and youth organisations staged a protest at the railway station in Kalaburagi on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an end to what they termed the suppression of the right to protest.

The protest was organised jointly by the CPI(M), the CPI, the SUCI(C) and student and youth organisations. The protesters crossed the railway gate, marched on the platform and staged a sit-in there for about two hours.

There was a confrontation between the police and protesters during the agitation. The police attempted to disperse the students and youth, but the protesters continued their demonstration at the spot.