Delhi woke up on Saturday to an extensive security lockdown, with barricades blocking major roads, loudspeakers issuing warnings and security personnel manning checkpoints across central Delhi and routes leading into the area ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
By midday, there were no visible signs of the proposed demonstration, as police had detained CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka within minutes of their arrival in Delhi. A Delhi Police team, comprising predominantly women officers, took the three into custody aboard their Air India flight shortly after it landed. They were being held at an undisclosed location when this report was last updated.
At Jantar Mantar, the designated protest venue, police personnel outnumbered demonstrators. More than 400 people, including popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, were detained early in the morning. The detentions continued throughout the day, with police taking into custody people who appeared to be travelling towards the protest site.
DELHI PREPARES FOR CJP PROTEST: KEY DEVELOPMENTS
DIPKE AND HIS ASSOCIATES DETAINED ABOARD AIR INDIA FLIGHT
Delhi Police detained CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka inside an Air India aircraft minutes after it landed in Delhi on Saturday, ahead of the party's planned demonstration.
Videos recorded inside the plane captured a confrontation between the police and the CJP leaders. Dipke could be heard declaring, "I am not afraid of you. I have come to get arrested."
In a statement, the party condemned the detentions as an "authoritarian" attempt to stop its leaders from reaching the protest venue. It described the action as a violation of freedom of movement and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
DHRUV RATHEE DETAINED WITH GURUGRAM POLICE'S HELP; AROUND 400 OTHERS HELD
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who was also expected to participate in the demonstration, was detained with assistance from Gurugram Police.
Delhi Police detained approximately 400 protesters on Saturday morning as they attempted to reach Jantar Mantar for the proposed CJP protest. According to sources, the detentions took place at various locations across the New Delhi area, while drones were used to track the movement of people heading towards the venue.
Before the demonstration, police sources told PTI that more than 600 people with criminal records had been detained across Delhi's 15 districts as a preventive measure.
JANTAR MANTAR FORTIFIED WITH HEAVY SECURITY
Security was stepped up around Jantar Mantar, with more than 25,000 police personnel, paramilitary forces, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) members deployed at strategic points. The deployment also included personnel from the police's Pink Force.
Multiple layers of barricades were installed along major roads, including Sansad Marg and Tolstoy Road. Security personnel equipped with protective gear and rifles were stationed at key locations.
Some officers were also seen wearing body cameras. Police said unauthorised gatherings would not be permitted and that people arriving to join the demonstration would be detained and taken to designated detention centres.
POLICE REFUSE PERMISSION AND ENFORCE RESTRICTIONS
Delhi Police denied permission for the CJP's October 10 demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was intended to raise allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and changes to Form 6.
Police cited procedural shortcomings, possible law-and-order problems and the inconvenience the demonstration could cause residents.
The New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police said the party had submitted an intimation rather than a formal application. According to the officer, a formal request needed to be filed at least 10 days before the proposed event.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were also in force throughout New Delhi. Police deployed loudspeakers and installed more than 300 CCTV cameras equipped with audio-recording facilities at sensitive locations.
INDIA TODAY JOURNALIST CAUGHT IN THE POLICE CRACKDOWN
Amid the police action against protesters, India Today MO creator Shubhang Shukla was also briefly detained while covering the demonstration.
In a video, Shukla identified himself as a journalist and alleged that police personnel pushed and assaulted him before forcing him into a police bus.
"I am from the press. I am from India Today," Shukla can be heard telling the officers in the video as he questioned their use of force.
POLICE EXPECT AROUND 7,000 PEOPLE TO JOIN THE PROTEST
Delhi Police expects approximately 7,000 people to arrive in the capital for the proposed demonstration, an official said.
Senior officers instructed personnel to exercise the utmost restraint, stay composed if provoked and deal with the situation professionally. Police also warned that action could be taken against anyone attempting to provoke officers or trigger confrontations.
BARRICADES BLOCK MAJOR ROUTES IN CENTRAL DELHI
Strict traffic restrictions took effect at 6 am on Saturday, with diversions planned around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other junctions.
The affected routes included the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, the Tolstoy Marg-Janpath crossing, the Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing and the Rail Bhawan roundabout.
MORE THAN 250 TRAINS HEADING TO DELHI CANCELLED
More than 250 trains arriving from other states, along with local services scheduled to reach New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, were cancelled.
Bus terminals were also placed under enhanced security. Liquor shops across Delhi were ordered to remain closed on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
METRO STATION GATES CLOSED AND MOBILE INTERNET SUSPENDED
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations would remain shut from 9 pm on Friday until the situation returned to normal on Saturday.
A separate 24-hour suspension of mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi also came into effect at 10 pm on Friday, adding to the restrictions imposed ahead of the planned protest.
CONNAUGHT PLACE MARKET TO REMAIN CLOSED
The Connaught Place market was also scheduled to remain closed on Saturday ahead of the proposed demonstration, the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) announced, citing safety concerns and the possibility of property damage.
NDTA Joint Secretary Amit Gupta said the decision was intended to protect lives and property, pointing out that thousands of people visit the commercial district during weekends.
Traders warned that the closure could result in losses running into crores of rupees. Brijesh Goyal, head of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), estimated the financial impact at Rs 2,000 crore.
