GUWAHATI: Delhi Police began detaining protesters gathering near Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place on Saturday, October 10, ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led demonstration, for which permission has been denied.
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Police personnel were seen removing people from areas around the designated protest site and taking them away in buses. Media personnel were exempted from the action, according to reports.
The CJP had called on its supporters to assemble at Jantar Mantar at 10 AM to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police expects around 7,000 protesters to arrive in the national capital. Senior officers have directed personnel to exercise maximum restraint and handle the situation professionally, an official reportedly said.
In a letter dated October 9, the New Delhi district police informed CJP co-convener Saurav Das and joint secretary Balkrishna that the group's communication submitted on October 7 was only an intimation of the proposed protest and did not qualify as a formal application for permission.
The police said applications for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar must be submitted at least 10 days in advance under existing guidelines. While acknowledging the right to protest as a fundamental right, the police said permission also depends on considerations involving public safety, law and order, and the rights of residents and commuters.
The police cited the short notice, alleged violations during previous demonstrations and concerns over public safety as reasons for denying permission. It also clarified that it had not received any application seeking permission to hold the demonstration at Ramlila Maidan.
Ahead of the protest, authorities introduced several restrictions across parts of Delhi. Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate, were scheduled to remain closed.
More than 250 trains from other states, along with local trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 AM and 2 PM on Saturday, were also cancelled.
Internet services were suspended for 24 hours within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also directed states and Union Territories to coordinate with Delhi Police and take preventive measures to stop protesters from travelling to the national capital.
The Connaught Place market was shut on Saturday following concerns over public safety and possible damage to property, the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) said.
NDTA joint secretary Amit Gupta reportedly said the decision was taken to safeguard lives and property, noting that thousands of people visit the commercial hub on weekends. The traders' body said the closure could result in losses worth crores of rupees.
Brijesh Goyal, chairperson of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, claimed that traders could suffer losses of around ₹2,000 crore due to the proposed protest and market closures.
Meanwhile, Germany-based YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his residence in Kendriya Vihar society in Gurugram's Sector 56 on Saturday morning, police said. The detention came after he allegedly did not comply with requests from Gurugram and Delhi Police teams not to travel to the national capital to participate in the protest.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) legal affairs head Ratna Singh was also detained on Saturday, October 10, the party said. Her detention comes amid heightened security and police action ahead of the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Security arrangements across Delhi were significantly strengthened ahead of the demonstration, with more than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed. Barricades and spike strips were also installed at several locations.
The protest is being led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, with supporters demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.
