CJP Protest: Delhi Police detain students, party leaders; some take shelter at Bangla Sahib

Delhi Police detained students and activists attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest today. Fraternity Movement cadres and other students were among those detained. Students were being protected at Bangla Sahib, while people associated with the gurdwara stood at the entrance to prevent police personnel from entering.

Several parts of central Delhi are witnessing heavy traffic congestion as security checks, barricades, and surveillance along key roads slowed vehicle movement.

The massive protest, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, prompted extensive security arrangements across the national capital.

Students, people with criminal records detained

Over 200 protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar had been detained across the New Delhi area. Drones are being used to monitor the movement of people trying to reach the protest site. More than 600 people with criminal records had been detained across Delhi's 15 districts as a preventive measure.

Delhi Police chased protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar and detained several as they tried to regroup at different locations. The protest was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am, but police and paramilitary personnel prevented many participants from reaching the site, detaining some and sending others back.

People led by Neha, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Prashant Bhushan and other civil society members were marching in unison from Dilli Haat to Jantar Mantar in massive numbers when Neha was detained.

Barricading can be seen at Siri Fort Road with cops and bus. However, it is nowhere near jantar mantar.

Students, leaders being detained (Image: Careers360)

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi airport after flying from Mumbai, the party claimed. CJP describes it as a pre-planned move to prevent its leaders from reaching the protest venue. Abhijeet is taken to Gurugram and Ashutosh to Dwarka Sector 23.

Delhi Police have taken the detainees to Yamuna Sports Complex, Karkardooma, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Chhatrasal Stadium and Nirankari Samagam Ground, Burari.

Police personnel were deployed at key intersections and approach roads across the New Delhi area, which had been divided into 20 sectors. As protesters, including women, attempted to regroup at different locations, police chased them and detained them in buses. In few buses filled with female students, female cops were not present.

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AAP alleges security cordon

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that Delhi Police had turned party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence into a fortress ahead of the CJP demonstration. Kejriwal had said on Friday that he and his family would attend the protest and urged youngsters to join the demonstration demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged "vote theft".

AAP's Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj said protesters wanted to raise their concerns peacefully but alleged that the heavy deployment of security personnel was creating an atmosphere of fear.

"You cannot make Gen-Z keep quiet by force-- these are our youth; talk to them, engage with them. BJP government wants to show that we are a scared country. We are not; we believe in non-violence and the Constitution of India," Bharadwaj said in a video message.

Delhi schools shift online, colleges postpone exams

Delhi University colleges, including Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Satyawati College and Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening), announced online classes. However, some colleges, including Lady Shri Ram College, reportedly declined requests from day scholars to shift classes online, according to posts circulated by students on social media.

Sardar Patel Vidyalaya announced online classes for students of Classes 6 to 12 and postponed the inauguration of its activity week. Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School rescheduled its parent-teacher meeting, while Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Mehta Vidyalaya cancelled sports day practice and enrichment classes for students of Classes 9 to 12.

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Supreme Court plea over Metro restrictions

A plea was filed in the apex court seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for allegedly violating the court's October 9 direction on Metro and train services during the CJP protest. The petition alleged that continued Metro station closures had disrupted public life and caused hardship to commuters.

Delhi Metro closed entry and exit gates at 45 stations from 9 pm on Friday until 6 pm on Saturday for security reasons, according to an advisory.

(With PTI inputs)