Delhi traffic is expected to face disruption on Sunday as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) plans another protest at Jantar Mantar following the detention of several of its members, prompting the Delhi Police to increase security and deploy barricades across central and adjoining areas.
The CJP has asked supporters to reach Jantar Mantar at 10 am under the call “Chalo Jantar-Mantar”. The party has assigned its national organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, to lead the protest after its leaders Abhijit Deepke, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by the police, according to the report.
The police have strengthened arrangements at Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Parliament Street and other sensitive locations. Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory warning that vehicle movement could be affected at several points, including Shankar Road–Vande Mataram T-point, Dhaula Kuan flyover, Jhandewalan, Panchkuian, Mandi House and Jantar Mantar Road.
Barricading has been installed around Jantar Mantar, with a warning banner stating that Section 163 is in force. The report said gatherings of more than five people in or around the protest area could invite action. The restrictions are intended to regulate movement around the designated protest zone and prevent large gatherings from spreading into surrounding parts of New Delhi.
The latest protest follows an earlier mobilisation on Saturday, when the police detained several CJP leaders and workers before they could reach Jantar Mantar. The report said around 4,000 people were taken into custody during that operation. It also reported that more than 35,000 security personnel had been deployed from Delhi’s borders to the New Delhi district, with drone surveillance used at border points.
Among those detained were CJP leaders who arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Mumbai at about 9.45 am, as well as other party figures taken into custody from their residences or other locations. The report said Deepke was taken to Gurugram, Das to Jaffarpur Kalan and Ranka to an outer Delhi detention centre. Police also detained YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and CJP leader Ratna Singh from their Gurugram residences, according to the report.
The CJP is seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The police action follows the party’s earlier protest on July 20, which the report said led to prolonged disruption in Delhi. The authorities have not permitted the latest demonstration, and security deployment has therefore been extended beyond Jantar Mantar to roads, entry points and other locations likely to experience increased movement.
For commuters, the immediate impact is expected around central Delhi and the listed traffic points, where barricading and diversions may slow vehicle movement. The report also said some shops were expected to remain closed because of the protest. Delhi Traffic Police’s advisory and on-ground restrictions will determine the routes available to motorists as the demonstration proceeds.
