CJP protest: NCP-SCP spokesperson says whereabouts of Abhijeet Dipke unknown after Delhi Airport detention

New Delhi: NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande on Saturday said the party was unaware of the whereabouts of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke after police personnel allegedly took him off a flight at Delhi Airport.

Gawande said it was unclear whether Dipke had been taken out of the airport or was still inside the premises.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, Gawande said he was travelling on the same flight as Dipke and two other CJP leaders, who were seated in front of him. He alleged that police officers boarded the aircraft and took Dipke away, inconveniencing other passengers.

"We were all on the same flight. The three of them were sitting right in front of me. Police officers entered the aircraft, inconvenienced all other passengers and picked him up from the aircraft. We do not even know whether he (Dipke) has been brought out of the airport or is still there," Gawande said.

Earlier in the day, Dipke, who had travelled from Mumbai to Delhi to participate in the planned CJP protest, posted a video on Instagram alleging that police personnel were detaining him and his associates as they disembarked from their flight.

Delhi Police continued to detain activists after informing them that permission had not been granted for the protest.

CJP activists head to Jantar Mantar

Gawande said young people were travelling to Jantar Mantar to participate in the protest. He expressed hope that the police would not use excessive force and would treat the demonstrators as equal citizens rather than criminals.

"The plan will be revealed to you very soon. Currently, young people are making their way to Jantar Mantar. We hope that the Police will not use excessive violence or force. We hope that the Police will treat young people of this country as equal citizens, rather than criminals who deserve to be punished," he said.

The CJP had called for a protest on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The proposed demonstration comes amid a political confrontation between Opposition parties and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over allegations of "vote chori" and the revision of electoral rolls.