India has seen a significant uptick in protests over the past year, necessitating increased police intervention. As of early October 2026, the country recorded 18,629 demonstrations, with 17,691 classified as protests, of which 687 were deemed violent. This surge has drawn scrutiny from international bodies such as the United Nations and Amnesty International regarding allegations of excessive police force and mass detentions during demonstrations.
Notably, protests organized by the “Cockroach” youth movement in July and October have prompted legal actions, including petitions filed in the Supreme Court alleging wrongful detentions and police misconduct. In response to these incidents, a committee was constituted in July to investigate the appropriateness of force used during the protests.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicate that around 1,200 protests so far in 2026 involved police intervention. In August alone, over 200 demonstrations were met with force, marking a decade-high for a single month. In comparisons to historical data, protests in New Delhi fell to 364 from 543 in 2016; however, states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka witnessed substantial increases in the frequency of demonstrations, with Tamil Nadu reporting 209 interventions out of 1,369 protests.
Police tactics utilized during these protests include various crowd control methods such as deploying tear gas, water cannons, and batons. Authorities maintain that these methods are necessary to ensure public order, abiding by established protocols that allow for intervention in cases of imminent threat to safety. Yet, instances of violence and injuries during encounters raise critical questions about the limits of police power. Reports indicate that over 2,000 protestors and nearly three dozen journalists faced drag and detention during recent events.
Controversially, pellet guns, which have been criticized for causing severe injuries, remain in use despite calls for a prohibition, leading to ongoing discussions at the Supreme Court regarding their legality and the extent of injury they inflict. Human Rights organizations continue to monitor the situation, urging caution in police actions and advocating for adherence to international guidelines on the use of force.
The Indian government insists that law enforcement measures are lawful and necessary to manage growing civil unrest. Upcoming legal hearings in the Supreme Court will further address the legality and application of these policing methods amid rising discontent among citizens.
