GUWAHATI: Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, October 16, about an hour after serving him a notice prohibiting him from holding the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place.
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Dipke was picked up from the Karol Bagh residence of Anish Gawande, spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Police personnel and other security forces also began dispersing the large crowds that had gathered at Connaught Place.
The CJP had called on supporters and members of the public to assemble at Central Park in Connaught Place and wave the national flag. The proposed gathering was part of the party’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Earlier, in a live video shared on the CJP’s Instagram page, Dipke questioned the police action, saying, “Humne to bola nahi protest karenge… hum toh Tiranga lehrayenge. Woh be allowed nahi hai?” (We didn’t say we will protest… we will just wave the Tricolour. Is that not allowed either?)
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had announced that Central Park would remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”. Delhi Police had also said it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location.
A prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is in force in the area. Police had warned that violations could invite action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and other applicable laws.
In its notice to Dipke, Delhi Police cited concerns over traffic disruption, public order and security. Police said obstruction of arterial roads passing through Connaught Place could severely affect traffic across central Delhi. The notice also referred to the area's proximity to Parliament, the Central Secretariat and diplomatic precincts.
Police further warned that narrow service lanes and older buildings could obstruct the movement of fire tenders and ambulances, potentially affecting emergency services.
The notice also referred to previous demonstrations by the CJP, alleging that protesters had violated permission conditions and that earlier calls for a march to Parliament had resulted in violence and damage to public and private property.
