{
  "id": 13443334,
  "title": "Former CMs Pinarayi and Mamata detained amid crackdown in Delhi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/former-cms-pinarayi-and-mamata-detained-amid-crackdown-in-delhi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T15:06:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-cms-pinarayi-and-mamata-detained-amid-crackdown-in-delhi/article71568607.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee were arrested during protests in Delhi on Saturday (October 10, 2026). Mr. Vijayan, a former Chief Minister of Kerala, was apprehended from Kerala House near Jantar Mantar. Ms. Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, was arrested from South Avenue bus stand, near parliamentarians' accommodations. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership surprised the police by taking refuge at Kerala House, located adjacent to Jantar Mantar, a place deemed off-limits for protesters. Party leaders, including M.A. Baby, Brinda Karat, and John Brittas, marched towards Jantar Mantar, shouting slogans, and were promptly detained by the police. Ms. Karat expressed her surprise at the police action on social media, stating, \"Look Amit Shah, we have reached Jantar Mantar\". The group was dispersed, resulting in Mr. Vijayan's transfer to Chattarasal Stadium, where detention was transformed into an academic forum discussing civic issues. Mr. Brittas, commenting on the incident, questioned the treatment of a former Chief Minister, alleging that it reflects the suppression of basic civil liberties in Delhi. Ms. Banerjee, who sat in protest outside parliamentarians' flats, described her treatment as akin to that of \"criminals\" and former political prisoners. She vowed to continue her participation in anti-government demonstrations, vowing to march alongside other leaders to the Supreme Court.",
  "summary": "Two former Chief Ministers, Pinarayi and Mamata, were detained in Delhi amid a crackdown. According to The Hindu, Mamata was picked up near MPs' flats and said she and her colleagues were treated like criminals. Pinarayi was detained from Kerala House.\n\nA protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, took place in Delhi on Saturday, calling for electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The protest was met with a heavy security deployment, with around 25,000 personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, deployed to prevent protesters from reaching the designated venue, Jantar Mantar.\n\nThe Times of India reported that Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of silencing dissent, alleging that the internet was shut down in Delhi and students were beaten up during protests. The BBC News and Euronews reported that thousands of security personnel were deployed, and Delhi was under a strict security clampdown, with metro stations closed and mobile internet shut down around the protest. More than 7,000 people were detained.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former CMs Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee arrested in Delhi protests.",
    "Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders took refuge at Kerala House.",
    "Detained leaders transferred to Chattarasal Stadium for discussion."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Delhi Metro update: DMRC says entry and exit of all stations now open amid protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/delhi-metro-update-dmrc-says-entry-and-exit-of-all-stations-now-open",
        "published": "2026-10-10T17:15:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}