Kurukshetra: A peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza turned violent after police cracked down on protesters in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The protest, held on October 5, was organized by the Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan (MAS) and other civil society groups.
According to eyewitnesses, police used force to disperse the crowd, injuring several activists. At least ten protesters, including key MAS members, were detained. Witnesses said the protest was non-violent and the crackdown was unprovoked. Some of the injured were reportedly denied immediate medical assistance.
MAS leaders condemned the arrests, calling them an attempt to silence democratic expression. They said their gathering aimed to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and India’s silence on the issue.
Civil rights organizations and local activists denounced the police response, arguing it reflects a wider pattern of intolerance toward political dissent. They accused authorities of using law enforcement to suppress solidarity movements related to Palestine.
Legal experts expressed concern over arbitrary detentions and the denial of basic rights to peaceful demonstrators. They emphasized that the right to assemble and express solidarity is guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.
The arrests in Kurukshetra follow a broader national trend where protests linked to international human rights causes, particularly Palestine, have faced restrictions and surveillance.
