18 hours, 3 leaders, no contact: What happened to Dipke and 2 others? CJP asks
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a fresh protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday, October 11, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The announcement comes amid uncertainty over the whereabouts of three party leaders who were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained shortly after their flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The party said it had been unable to contact the three leaders for more than 12 hours and did not know where they were being held.
With its senior leadership out of contact, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the party would resume its mobilisation at Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday.
Delhi security restrictions and mass detentions
Delhi Police denied permission for Saturday's planned demonstration, citing security and law-and-order concerns. More than 20,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed across the capital, including around 6,500 in the sensitive area surrounding Jantar Mantar.
Police established barricades and checkpoints, set up detention centres and deployed surveillance equipment. Around 150 people gathered at Connaught Place were detained, while more than 600 people with criminal antecedents were also taken into preventive custody, according to the report.
Delhi Police said approximately 3,000 people detained under the Delhi Police Act were released on Saturday evening. However, the whereabouts of the three CJP leaders remained unclear.
The security measures disrupted public transport and movement across the capital. Several Metro stations were temporarily shut, train services were cancelled, and mobile internet services were suspended within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path area. Security was also tightened at the Delhi-Noida border, including the Chilla border, leading to traffic congestion on several routes.
Metro station entry and exit gates were reopened after 10 pm, with interchange facilities restored at the affected stations. Markets and establishments in Connaught Place, which had remained shut amid the heightened security, were expected to reopen on Sunday.
Opposition leaders detained during protest
Several Opposition leaders were detained while attempting to join Saturday's demonstrations. Those named in the report included former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar.
Banerjee said she and other Trinamool Congress leaders were taken away in a police vehicle after being prevented from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. She also said she would remain in Delhi to participate in the Opposition's planned mobilisation.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the police action. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of targeting protesters and Opposition leaders, while Priyanka Gandhi questioned the restrictions imposed across the capital.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called for peaceful demonstrations and unity, expressing concern over the detentions and raising questions about democratic freedoms. He invoked Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of non-violence and warned of an indefinite fast or march if those detained during the Delhi protest were not released.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, criticised Rahul Gandhi and Opposition MPs over their conduct towards President Droupadi Murmu. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also criticised the protests and praised Delhi Police for its handling of the situation.
Lawyers clash with police; UN expresses concern
Tensions were reported outside Mahindra Park police station, where lawyers seeking access to detained protesters clashed with police. The lawyers subsequently went to Chhatrasal Stadium, where several detainees were being held, but were stopped at the main gate.
The United Nations human rights office expressed concern over reports of mass detentions involving protesters, political leaders, lawyers and journalists. UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan urged the authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that any restrictions met the requirements of necessity and proportionality.
Supreme Court to hear petitions
The Supreme Court scheduled a special sitting on Sunday to hear petitions connected with Saturday's developments.
One petition challenges the detention of Opposition leaders and protesters. A separate contempt petition alleges that authorities continued to close Metro stations and cancel train services despite the Supreme Court's October 9 directions against a complete shutdown of public transport.
The proceedings could bring judicial scrutiny to the restrictions imposed during the protest and the circumstances surrounding the detentions.
Protests reported in Mumbai and Bengaluru
The agitation also spread beyond Delhi, with demonstrations reported in Mumbai and Bengaluru in support of the CJP's demands.
In Mumbai, around 400 people were detained, according to the report. Actor Imran Khan was among those detained, while former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya sought a probe into the actor's participation in the demonstration.
In Bengaluru, protesters gathered against the Election Commission and in support of the CJP's demands. Police action was reported as authorities sought to prevent the demonstrations from escalating.
What happens next?
The CJP's fresh call for a Jantar Mantar protest at 10 am on Sunday comes amid uncertainty over the status of its three detained leaders and continuing legal scrutiny of the police response.
Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory warning of possible diversions depending on the law-and-order situation. The Supreme Court's scheduled hearing is also expected to bring the restrictions and detentions under judicial consideration.
The central issues remain the CJP's demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, the status of the detained leaders, and the legal limits on restrictions imposed to prevent demonstrations.