CJP protest against CEC: 500 detained in Delhi, stone-pelting leaves 2 cops injured

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 10: Delhi Police detained around 500 protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday. Two police personnel were injured after protesters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel near Akashwani Bhawan, officials said.

According to officials, around 25 to 30 protesters toppled barricades on Imtiaz Ali Marg near Akashwani Bhawan around noon and allegedly hurled stones at security personnel. Some protesters were detained, while two police personnel sustained injuries in the incident.

The protest was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am, but police prevented participants from reaching Jantar Mantar after denying permission for the demonstration and imposing prohibitory orders in the New Delhi district.

Protesters were detained from several locations, including near Regal Cinema, Minto Bridge, Akashwani Bhawan and Connaught Place. Police personnel chased down groups attempting to regroup and shifted those detained to buses. Some protesters raised slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" while being taken away.

Ahead of the proposed demonstration, police also detained more than 600 people with criminal records across all 15 districts of the national capital as a preventive measure to avert any law-and-order situation, sources said.

Police are keeping a close watch on individuals suspected of mobilising crowds or encouraging participation in the protest. Surveillance has also been intensified outside the residences of certain individuals as part of the security arrangements, the sources added.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Devesh Srivastava told PTI that elaborate security arrangements had been made, with police pickets set up in areas bordering neighbouring states in coordination with their police forces.

Senior officers have been deployed across the city, while community policing teams, including Aman Committees, are also assisting the authorities, he said.

"The situation is under control. People who are going to Jantar Mantar are being detained as we had already said that no permission for such protest is granted," Srivastava said.

Police personnel have been deployed at strategic locations, particularly along roads leading to Jantar Mantar and other sensitive areas. The district has been divided into 20 sectors, with senior officers monitoring the situation.

CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained at the Delhi airport upon their arrival in the national capital.

Police have appealed to citizens not to participate in the unauthorised demonstration and urged them to comply with the prohibitory orders in force across the New Delhi area.

The CJP had called the protest against the Chief Election Commissioner over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes relating to Form 6, which is used for voter registration.