Two dozen independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday called on Indian authorities to "immediately cease the use of excessive force" against demonstrators protesting the revision of voter lists, and sought an independent investigation into the authorities' conduct, Reuters reported.

"Despite the non-violent nature of the assemblies, law enforcement agencies have reportedly deployed force against unarmed students, including lathi charges, and have prevented thousands from joining the protests," the experts said in their statement, adding that demonstrators had sustained injuries and some reported being subjected to ill-treatment. They urged authorities to rescind blanket assembly bans and "refrain from the misuse of digital surveillance, including through biometrics, and internet disruptions." The experts are independent specialists appointed by the Human Rights Council and do not speak for the United Nations as a whole.

Opposition parties and student organisations have held protests this month demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, which they allege favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party — an allegation the BJP and the Election Commission deny. Protesting groups say the removal of 130 million names from voter lists disenfranchised eligible voters and disproportionately affected poor and homeless people and ethnic minorities; that claim is also denied by the BJP and the Commission.

Reuters reported that the Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement. India's government said this month that the country's law enforcement acted "strictly in accordance with the law," and India has repeatedly dismissed such criticism as interference in its internal affairs, including when the UN human rights office earlier this month expressed concern over mass detentions linked to the same protests. (Sources: Reuters, via SRN News and WNCY; the UN-appointed experts' statement of October 20, 2026, as reported by Reuters)