With the claims and objections window open under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) show that the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the third-largest political force in Tamil Nadu in terms of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), underscoring a steady expansion of its organisational footprint in the State.
According to the daily bulletin issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, political parties have appointed BLAs in large numbers to assist with the revision process. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leads with 65,210 BLAs, followed closely by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam with 63,703. The BJP ranks third with 54,258 BLAs, ahead of the Indian National Congress, which has appointed 27,158 BLAs.
Political observers note that the BJP’s current BLA strength reflects sustained booth-level work initiated nearly a decade ago, gaining momentum over the past four years. The party’s organisational presence now rivals the State’s two dominant Dravidian parties at the grassroots level.
The SIR process recorded 39,821 applications for inclusion of eligible voters and 413 objections seeking deletion of ineligible voters within the first two days, as of 8 PM on 20 December 2025. Forms 6 and 6A were used for inclusion, while Form 7 was submitted for deletions. Officials clarified that only applications filed through prescribed statutory forms with required declarations are being counted.
Significantly, no political party has sought mass deletions so far. Of the limited submissions routed through parties, only two inclusion requests were filed, both by the DMK, while no party submitted exclusion requests during the period under review.
The draft electoral roll for Tamil Nadu currently includes over 5.43 crore electors. The ECI reiterated that the revision exercise is continuous and verification-driven, assuring that all eligible voters omitted from the draft roll can still be added before the final electoral roll is published, as the State moves closer to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has sparked political controversy after crediting Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi with enabling the people of the state to celebrate Christmas.
Speaking at a government-hosted Christmas programme held at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, 20 December 2025, Reddy said that Christmas celebrations in Telangana were possible because of what he described as the “sacrifice” and “crucial role” played by Sonia Gandhi. He stated that if people in Telangana were celebrating Christmas today, it was due to her contribution.
He said, “The reason we are celebrating Christmas festival here in Telangana today is because of the contribution and sacrifice of Smt Sonia Gandhi.”
The Chief Minister described December as a month of special significance for both the Congress party and Telangana. He linked the month to Sonia Gandhi’s birthday on December 9 and to the formation of Telangana state, calling it a “miracle month” for the party and the region.
Referring to the long struggle for statehood, Revanth Reddy said the creation of Telangana fulfilled a six-decade-old aspiration. He credited Sonia Gandhi’s leadership for the formation of the state, noting that the Congress had gone ahead with the decision despite facing political setbacks in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Reddy also recalled the Telangana movement, stating that many young people had sacrificed their lives during the agitation, and said that their aspirations were realised under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.
Christmas is being celebrated here today due to the sacrifice and contribution of Sonia Gandhi…….
Hundreds of residents displaced to Chennai’s resettlement colonies used a slogan-led protest on Sunday, 21 December 2025, to draw attention to what they described as years of official neglect, unsafe living conditions, drug menace, and inadequate public services.
The protest, organised by Arappor Iyakkam under the banner “Kelu Chennai Kelu” (Listen Chennai, Listen), was held at Egmore and saw participation from over 500 residents from Perumbakkam, Kannagi Nagar, KP Park in Pulianthope, and Vyasarpadi.
Residents from Perumbakkam, home to around 24,000 families, flagged rampant drug abuse and serious safety concerns. S. Jayapriya, 33, said schoolchildren had easy access to narcotics and described poor school management. “There are four schools, but they are badly managed. Students even climb out of compound walls during class hours,” she said. Fearing for her child’s safety, Jayapriya said she sends her daughter to a government school in Santhome, where the family lived before relocation. “Because of poor bus connectivity, my daughter leaves at 6.30 am and returns only by 7 pm. It is unsafe,” she added.
From Kannagi Nagar, which houses nearly 23,000 families, residents complained of inadequate public transport, claiming that while at least 65 MTC buses were required, only about 30 were currently in operation.
Residents of KP Park in Pulianthope, housing over 2,000 families, highlighted severe structural flaws in the tenements. R. Sangeetha recounted a lift accident that left her father grievously injured. “The lift stopped between floors. Elderly people were told to get down midway. My father tried to step out when the lift bounced and moved. He fell inside the shaft. His body was so badly injured that we couldn’t recognise him,” she said.
Urban poor from #Chennai narrate gory tales from city’s resettlement colony that’s plagued by structural and civic issues.
A woman lost her son after he fell from a window of 7th floor that had no safety railings.
Another resident said her son had fallen from the seventh floor because window railings were missing. “Even now, balconies and windows remain unsafe,” she said.
Arappor Iyakkam placed 10 demands before the government, including immediate repair of unsafe buildings, regular supply of clean drinking water, regulated power supply, functional lifts, proper sewage systems, round-the-clock medical facilities, improved bus connectivity, local employment opportunities, action against drug abuse with rehabilitation measures, and a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism.
Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan said serious construction defects identified earlier had not been addressed. “An IIT–Madras inspection found that contractors used 15 bags of sand for every bag of cement, instead of the permitted six,” he alleged.
Several residents spoke emotionally about daily life inside the tenements. One resident said water leakage had persisted for two years. “If you knock the door it shakes, if you tap the wall it crumbles. If you scratch it, your nail just sinks in,” the resident said, alleging that authorities resorted to temporary patchwork after media attention and then stopped responding altogether.
Urban poor from #Chennai narrate gory tales from city’s resettlement colony that’s plagued by structural and civic issues.
A woman lost her son after he fell from a window of 7th floor that had no safety railings.
An elderly resident spoke about alcohol abuse and harassment. “If we question them, they come to hit us. By the time police arrive, no one is there,” he said. He also described flooding inside his ground-floor flat due to a leaking overhead water tank and unsafe common areas. “In Ayanavaram we lived peacefully. From there, they brought us here near the cemetery and dumped us. When we ask why, they say this is ‘Dravidian model’ rule,” he said.
A senior citizen almost teared up when he said drug menace among youth was rampant in #Perumbakkam resettlement colony and the youngsters are even hitting elderly people when they question them. There’s been no action by police too, he says. https://t.co/528ar2AdTDpic.twitter.com/mGjSBezTu7
Residents said the protest was not political but an appeal for basic dignity and safety. They warned that unless authorities addressed the issues in a sustained and accountable manner, thousands of families in Chennai’s resettlement colonies would continue to live in unsafe and degrading conditions.
A case of alleged caste-based discrimination has surfaced from Karur district, where a Dalit woman employed under the Tamil Nadu government’s breakfast scheme was reportedly barred from cooking at a government school after objections from a section of parents belonging to dominant castes. The incident has reignited concerns over the persistence of caste-based exclusion despite decades of DMK’s Dravidian model governance that they claim to be based on ‘social justice’.
The affected worker, Nirosha (35), a resident of Ponnampatti village and a member of the Arunthathiyar community, had been working as a cooking assistant under the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme at the Chinnareddiyapatti Panchayat Union Middle School, near Thogaimalai, for the past four months.
Speaking to reporters, Nirosha alleged that on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the school’s headmistress, Bhanumathi, summoned her and told her not to return for cooking duties. According to Nirosha, the headmistress said that if she continued cooking, students from dominant caste families would refuse to eat the food. The following morning, Nirosha found another woman engaged in cooking in her place.
When she approached the Thogaimalai Block Development Office and contacted Sathya, the Block Women’s Welfare Scheme Manager, she was allegedly informed that a replacement had already been appointed and that she should not report for duty. Nirosha further claimed that when she went to meet the official in person, she was made to wait at the office the entire day and sent back without being heard.
Following this, Nirosha lodged formal complaints with the Karur District Collector, the Superintendent of Police, and the Thogaimalai Police Station, alleging caste discrimination, abuse of authority, and denial of livelihood.
The incident prompted a field inquiry by a media team, which interacted with all concerned parties.
“This is not just about me,” Nirosha said. “Many women like me have suffered similar caste-based humiliation. I decided to complain so that this does not continue for future generations. Even today, those in authority indulge in caste oppression. Educated government officials behaving this way is unacceptable.”
She added that even if some parents held caste prejudice, it was the responsibility of teachers, who educate children daily to counsel parents and students against discrimination, rather than removing her from work. “Instead of teaching equality, they told me not to cook and pushed me out,” she said.
Nirosha alleged that the headmistress misused her authority and that the block-level women’s welfare official acted in collusion. Although she has now been asked to rejoin work following her complaint, she insists that disciplinary action must be taken against those responsible. “Only then will such incidents stop,” she said.
When contacted, Sathya, the Social Welfare Women’s Scheme Manager at the Thogaimalai Block Development Office, stated that Nirosha had been instructed to resume work at the same school and claimed that no other person was currently employed there.
The headmistress, Bhanumathi, declined to comment on the matter.
The Karur District Education Officer, when approached, said that an inquiry had been conducted with the headmistress and that a report would be submitted to the Chief Educational Officer and the District Collector.
The incident has drawn comparisons to earlier caste-based controversies linked to the same scheme in Karur district. Shortly after the breakfast scheme was launched, objections were raised in Velanchettiyur Panchayat Union Primary School, near Aravakurichi, against a Dalit woman cooking meals. At that time, then District Collector Prabhu Shankar personally visited the school, ate the food prepared by the Dalit worker, and warned villagers against caste discrimination.
Despite Tamil Nadu being touted by the Dravidianists as a leading state in social welfare and education, activists point out that incidents such as the Vengaivayal drinking water contamination, the Nanguneri caste-based murder attempt on a student, the forced humiliation of a Dalit government official by a DMK councillor in Tindivanam, and the hand amputation of a Dalit youth in Sivaganga for riding a Bullet motorcycle show that caste violence remains deeply entrenched.
BJP Tamil Nadu Youth Wing President Dr. SG Suryah has publicly accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of illegally using a government-administered Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) marriage hall for a party event and alleged a deliberate cover-up by authorities when questioned through Right to Information (RTI) laws.
The allegation pertains to a DMK branch meeting, referred to as the “BLA2” meeting, which was reportedly held in November 2025 at an HR&CE-managed marriage hall in Velachery. Suryah asserts that using state-controlled temple property for a partisan political event is a clear violation of rules.
Seeking accountability, Suryah filed an RTI application to ascertain whether the DMK paid the requisite rent for the use of the facility. However, he claims the government has engaged in a stalling tactic instead of providing a transparent answer. He stated this appeared to be a deliberate attempt to delay disclosure and obscure records relating to the alleged misuse.
Suryah stated that he would continue to pursue the matter until what he described as the systematic misuse of government machinery and temple assets for party political activities was brought into the public domain.
On his X account, he wrote, “#DMK’s BLA2 meeting was brazenly conducted in an HR&CE marriage hall in #Velachery in November 2025, using temple-controlled government property for a partisan political event, something that is outright illegal. I filed an RTI to find out whether DMK even paid rent for this misuse. Instead of answering, the government is deliberately shuffling my application from one department to another; clearly to stall, cover up, and doctor accounts. I will not back down until DMK’s systematic abuse of government machinery and temple properties for party politics is exposed before the public.
– Dr. SG Suryah”
#DMK’s BLA2 meeting was brazenly conducted in an HR&CE marriage hall in #Velachery in November 2025, using temple-controlled government property for a partisan political event, something that is outright illegal.
I filed an RTI to find out whether DMK even paid rent for this…
Former senior IPS officer Pon Manickavel on Sunday, 21 December 2025, delivered an extended and emotionally charged press address in Madurai, responding to public debate surrounding the death of Poornachandran. Stating that his remarks were meant not only for Tamil Nadu but for audiences across India and abroad, Manickavel said he had deliberately stayed away from media appearances for several days to conduct his own inquiries.
“For the last two or three days, I have been in Madurai. I went to the hospital, I went to every place connected to this incident, and only after detailed enquiry, did I come and speak to the family,” he said. He stated that he had spoken to Poornachandran’s mother, father and wife, listened to audio recordings provided by them, and seen the children and other family members.
Manickavel prefaced his remarks by referring to his police career. “I am a police officer. I have served for 30 years. I am saying this because the High Court and even the Supreme Court have written that the trust placed in my integrity has not reduced even by a fraction,” he said, adding that he had not arrived “dramatically” but only after days of verification.
Referring to allegations circulating on social media, he said, “If this had been a murder, I, Pon Manickavel, would not be standing here. This is not murder. Murder is when one person kills another. Suicide is not an ordinary matter.” He explained that in law, suicide could attract abetment provisions under Section 306 of the IPC.
He repeatedly cited what he described as Poornachandran’s dying declaration. “Before his death, he clearly said why he was doing this. He spoke about British rule, about culture, about the present government. He even mentioned the name of a judge. He apologised to his two children and to his parents. He clearly stated the reason,” Manickavel said.
On the political dimension, he said, “If there is abetment, then the head of the Tamil Nadu government is the Chief Minister, Mr. Stalin.” He alleged that certain media outlets had stayed away deliberately. “That is why Sun TV is not here. If they come, I will speak about them, and they know you will broadcast it,” he said.
Manickavel said the deceased’s son had told in the audio, “Our entire family is DMK.” He added, “Whether that is true or false, I don’t know. But he said it. That shows how loyal they were. Yet not one DMK person came.” Calling it an altrusitic suicide, he asked whether party leaders would visit unless money was involved.
He asserted repeatedly that he was not aligned with any political party. “I swear. I am not connected to any party. I vote for whoever works well, even if he is DMK. But if Karunanidhi or Stalin stands, I will never vote for them. I will work hard to defeat them,” he said, adding that he had earlier decided never to enter politics but was now reconsidering.
Strongly rejecting claims about Poornachandran’s character, Manickavel said, “If anyone called him a drunkard, I challenge them—show one proof.” He referred to drawings in the house. “Look at the children’s drawings—Murugan, Vinayaka, the national flag, Karthigai Deepam. Has anyone else drawn like this?” he asked.
He denied that he was seeking publicity. “I did not come here for mileage or popularity,” he said, addressing Hindus in Tamil Nadu, Canada, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Europe. “You can trust my integrity. I swear. He has left two children and left this world.”
On allegations that the act was financially motivated, he said, “If anyone says he did this for money, they are base born. I will go directly go to their house.” He added, “This (Poornachandran) death cannot be defamed. Those who try to malign it are of the lowest moral character.”
Manickavel also spoke at length about the physical aspect of death by burning, stating, “Burning is not easy. Even one-third burns take nearly 40 days to kill. This was total burning,” which he said disproved casual claims being made online.
He said, “This is an altruistic suicide, first of its kind in Tamil Nadu. He has given up his life for a social cause.”
He further added, “A DMK party member dies and leaves a dying declaration – this is a strong message to the entire DMK cadre. As for funding the children’s education, we should not beg the government. We will raise funds transparently. An account will be opened in the children’s names. Every rupee will be accounted for. Not even a drop will be misused. I will act as a watchdog.”
He alleged that police officers today were “prisoners of the government” and described democracy as “fake democracy driven by corruption.” He said, “A society becomes good only when taxpayers demand accountability.”
Responding to questions on police conduct, Manickavel delivered a sharp critique. “The police in our state are kindhearted when they pass out from the training, but their hands are tied when each party comes to power. Had I been the police officer, I assure you 100% that I will write an email to the CM stating that I am a servant of the law, I am not a servant of the government, every police officer must remember this, as long as the oral instruction is extralegal,” he said. “If a judge passes an order, I will obey it. High Court orders must be respected. A police officer who disrespects judicial orders is not fit to be police. A bad judge once passed a bad order, I don’t know in what circumstance he passed that order, but I still respect him.”
Manickavel concluded by saying, “Reporters will never become Chief Ministers – but their owners will. A vegetable seller can never become a councillor unless he has money. This is fake democracy.”
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An online controversy erupted on Saturday (20 December 2025) after Kota Neelima, wife of Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, publicly threatened legal action against an independent OSINT researcher who runs the social media handle The Hawk Eye.
The development followed a series of posts by the OSINT researcher alleging the existence of a foreign-funded media influence network linked to the Congress party. In response, Neelima, who had unsuccessfully contested the Telangana Legislative Assembly elections in 2023, accused the researcher of publishing defamatory content and warned of imminent civil and criminal proceedings.
In a post on X, Neelima said she was “shocked” by what she described as a defamatory rant presented as investigative work. She wrote, “I am shocked at this defamatory rant masquerading as investigation in this thread. It is a deliberate lie, published with intent to injure my reputation. Every material assertion is false and malicious. Civil and criminal proceedings are being initiated without delay against the author, publisher, and all who knowingly circulated it and amplified it. Consequences will be pursued to their full extent under law.”
Background to the Allegations
Earlier the same day, The Hawk Eye published a thread alleging links between the Congress party, foreign funding sources, and what was described as a coordinated media narrative network. The thread named Neelima as a central figure, citing her association with PROTO, a Delhi-based organisation.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT 🚨
Congress. Foreign-Funding. Media. Narrative.
The man character of this story influence the media-narrative in India, controlled by US & Jamaat elements.
At the centre of it – Congress spox Pawan Khera’a wife Neelima Kota.
According to the OSINT researcher, PROTO plays a role in determining which Indian journalists receive foreign funding.
He alleged that PROTO was founded in 2018 by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and functions as a conduit for foreign funds to journalists globally.
Image Source: The Hawk Eye
The researcher alleged that ICFJ receives funding from Open Society Foundations, linked to George Soros, and from USAID.
Image Source: The Hawk Eye
He further claimed that the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) also formed part of the funding chain.
Image Source: The Hawk Eye
According to the researcher, organisations such as the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) receive funding from entities including the Knight Foundation, Luminate, and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Image Source: The Hawk Eye
He claimed that NED has been expelled by multiple countries, including Russia and China, for allegedly supporting regime-change operations.
The thread alleged that Neelima played a central role in building what was described as a media ecosystem since 2017 through initiatives such as the Institute of Perception Studies, Rate The Debate, Hakku Initiative, and StudioAdda.
Image Source: The Hawk Eye
According to the researcher, these platforms hosted between 25 and 30 journalists between 2020 and 2025, many of whom were critical of the BJP. Examples cited included former AAP leader Ashutosh and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.
Image Source: The Hawk EyeImage Source: The Hawk Eye
The OSINT researcher further alleged that these platforms influenced the pre-screening and selection of Indian journalists for foreign funding.
Claims Involving PROTO and Islamist Links
The thread claimed that PROTO’s founder, Nasr ul Hadi, oversees journalist selection for South Asia, while his brother Saif ul Hadi is associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and its Vision 2040 initiative. The thread alleged that Saif ul Hadi had participated in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and teaches at the Indian Institute of Islamic Studies, which the researcher said is affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Image Source: The Hawk EyeImage Source: The Hawk Eye
According to the OSINT researcher, this represented a deliberate “division of roles,” alleging that foreign funding was channelled to selected journalists, while Islamist activism was organised on the ground, with political amplification by the Congress party.
Editorial Agenda and Political Amplification Claims
The thread further alleged that between July 2020 and December 2024, ICFJ-commissioned stories in India focused exclusively on themes such as minority persecution, hate speech, CAA discrimination, bulldozer demolitions, and removal of Muslim religious structures under the Modi government. The researcher claimed that no such stories examined Islamist violence, forced religious conversions, demographic change, or foreign funding of separatist movements.
He also alleged that journalists from organisations such as the BBC, The Wire, and representatives from Common Cause, which previously lost its FCRA licence, were part of the broader network.
Image Source: The Hawk EyeImage Source: The Hawk Eye
The researcher claimed that these narratives were later amplified by the Congress party and cited overseas statements by Rahul Gandhi as part of what he described as a coordinated messaging loop.
The OSINT researcher called for a formal investigation, alleging a conflict of interest arising from Neelima’s association with media-funding platforms while being married to a senior Congress spokesperson.
As of publication, neither the Congress party nor the organisations named in the thread, including PROTO, ICFJ, or GFMD—have issued detailed public responses addressing the specific allegations. Neelima’s statement remains the only formal response, with legal action announced but not yet detailed.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a final reminder to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the University of Madras, directing them to submit an additional and detailed report by 23 January 2026 in connection with allegations surrounding a foreign diploma programme earlier offered by Loyola College.
The NHRC had taken cognisance of a complaint filed by Legal Rights Protection Forum, which alleged that Loyola College had offered a diploma course involving foreign collaboration without obtaining mandatory approvals, in violation of UGC regulations.
According to the complaint, students were allegedly misled into paying substantial fees for the programme and were sent abroad on visas, exposing them to potential legal and financial risks. The complainant contended that the course did not comply with regulatory provisions governing international academic collaborations.
Following the complaint, the NHRC had earlier directed both the UGC and the University of Madras to conduct inquiries and submit action taken reports. In August, the University of Madras submitted a report stating that the allegations were baseless. The university maintained that the course, titled Diploma in Film Making with AI France, was introduced by Loyola College under its autonomous status, had the approval of its statutory bodies, and was in compliance with UGC norms.
However, the complainant disputed the university’s findings, alleging that key mandatory provisions of UGC regulations relating to foreign collaborations had not been addressed. He cited an RTI response from the University of Madras which, according to him, indicated that requisite approvals had not been obtained for the programme.
After examining the available records and the submissions made so far, the NHRC directed both the UGC and the University of Madras to file more detailed responses, leading to the issuance of the final reminder.
When contacted, an official from Loyola College said that inquiries conducted by both the UGC and the University of Madras had found the allegations to be baseless and that the authorities had permitted the college to offer the course.
DMK-Congress ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has announced a protest in Madurai on 22 December 2025, alleging that right-wing organisations are attempting to foment communal tensions in Thirupparankundram.
In a statement, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said the protest was intended to safeguard communal harmony in the region. He stated that it was the responsibility of democratic forces to preserve the peaceful atmosphere in Thirupparankundram and prevent what he described as attempts by divisive and “Sanatana” forces to disturb communal harmony.
Referring to the ongoing Deepam-related dispute at Thirupparankundram, Thirumavalavan cited a court order concerning the issue and claimed that lighting a lamp on the Deepathoon located close to the mosque atop the hill could lead to unrest. He warned that such actions had the potential to escalate tensions in the area.
The VCK leader appealed to democratic and secular groups to participate in the December 22 protest in large numbers, stating that collective action was necessary to ensure peace and communal harmony in the region.
Police have registered criminal cases against 42 individuals, including BJP functionaries and local residents, in connection with protests condemning the permission granted for flag-hoisting related to the Sandhanakoodu festival at the Sikandar Dargah, while Hindu devotees were allegedly denied permission to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon on the same hill despite a court order permitting the ritual.
According to police records, 35 people, including BJP district leaders Marisakkaravarthi, Sivalingam, and Rajasimman, have been booked by the Thirunagar Police Station for staging a road-block protest on the Thirunagar–Thirupparankundram Road. The protest was held to demand the release of residents and women who had earlier been arrested during demonstrations on the hill. Traffic on the arterial road was disrupted for over half an hour due to the sit-in.
The Thirupparankundram Police Station has registered cases against 17 residents of Palani Andavar Koil Street, including women, in connection with protests on the hill itself. Police allege that these individuals argued with officers over the permission granted for the Dargah flag-hoisting, violated police instructions, and attempted to carry traditional clay lamps up the hill to light the Deepam.
Police further stated that some protesters placed the clay lamps in front of the Palani Andavar Temple and performed worship there, which authorities have described as part of an unauthorised protest.
The protests trace back to 21 December 2025, when residents alleged that police failed to implement a court order allowing the lighting of the Deepam at the Deepathoon, while simultaneously granting permissions for Sandhanakoodu-related activities at the Dargah. Following demonstrations by local residents, many of them women, police arrested several participants and confined them in a private marriage hall in Thirunagar.
In response, more than 200 people staged a road-block protest demanding their release. Those detained were released later that night, around 11 p.m. However, police subsequently registered FIRs against those who took part in both the hill protest and the road blockade.
The registration of cases has drawn criticism from various quarters, with those booked stating that their agitation was aimed at asserting what they describe as their constitutional right to worship. Protesters have alleged selective enforcement of law, claiming that police action favoured one religious group while proceeding against another.
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