More than 100 people, including Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora, were detained after protesters gathered around Connaught Place in central Delhi on Friday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to Delhi Police and the Indian Express report.
Around 2,000 people, many carrying the Tricolour, gathered near Central Park for the CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march. Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel dispersed the protesters by 7 pm, while a senior police officer said the detentions were made for alleged violations of prohibitory orders.
The security operation affected one of Delhi’s busiest commercial and public spaces. More than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the New Delhi district and adjoining areas. Central Park was ordered shut to the public on Friday and Saturday by the New Delhi Municipal Council for “administrative reasons”, while several shops and restaurants in Connaught Place remained closed.
Police notices served to Dipke said the march could not be held without lawful permission and cited the impact on traders’ livelihoods and public movement. The notice also stated that Connaught Place was not a notified protest site, while other designated venues could be used subject to permission being sought and granted.
Dipke was detained in Karol Bagh at about 4.50 pm after leaving the house of NCP (Sharad Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande, where he had been staying. Police sources said he was taken to Jaffarpur Kalan police station in southwest Delhi and could be placed under preventive detention for 24 hours. The CJP founder had reached the Capital on Wednesday, after party members Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were arrested and sent to Tihar Jail for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation on Monday.
Bora called a separate flash protest at Mandi House at around 5 pm. She began marching with supporters at about 5.20 pm and was detained soon afterwards. A police officer said her lawyers had been informed and that she was taken to a location near the RK Puram police station. The CJP and AISA later said they were concerned about the whereabouts of both leaders because they had been unable to communicate with them.
A separate protest was organised on Firozeshah Road by the Students’ Federation of India and other Left student organisations. The group, which included CPI(M) MP John Brittas, marched towards Connaught Place before being dispersed by police and CAPF personnel. Palika Bazar traders also raised slogans against the protesters, saying the mobilisation was affecting business.
Opposition leaders criticised the detentions and demanded that Dipke and Bora be released. DMK president M K Stalin, former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Pawan Khera, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Brittas questioned the police action and sought information about Bora’s whereabouts. Delhi Police’s stated position was that the detentions followed prohibitory orders and restrictions on demonstrations at the site.
