Mumbai Police barricaded August Kranti Maidan on Saturday after a protest was called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while several protesters were reportedly detained and taken to Gamdevi Police Station, according to Mid-Day.
The protest in south Mumbai was organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Protesters sought access to the site and demanded that police show the orders authorising their detention, the report said.
Several people were taken into custody from the Grant Road protest area and transported to Gamdevi Police Station. The reason for the detentions was not immediately clear, and further details about the police action were awaited when the report was published.
Access to the Nana Chowk Skywalk was also restricted during the police operation. The restriction affected a public pedestrian facility connecting parts of the Grant Road and Nana Chowk areas, although the report did not specify how long access would remain limited.
The police action came amid wider security measures linked to protests in Mumbai and Delhi. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and others were detained after landing at Delhi airport, according to the report. Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained on Saturday morning after announcing that he would join the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Security was separately tightened outside DN Nagar Police Station in Andheri West, where additional police personnel were deployed as Shiv Sena UBT and Congress workers began gathering. The increased deployment indicated a broader police response across multiple locations, although the report did not provide details of any formal citywide order or operational plan.
The restrictions placed the focus on how police manage demonstrations around public grounds, transport-linked pedestrian infrastructure and police stations in densely populated parts of Mumbai. August Kranti Maidan is a prominent public gathering space in south Mumbai, while the Nana Chowk Skywalk serves everyday pedestrian movement in the area.
At the time of publication, Mumbai Police had not provided details on the legal basis for the detentions or the duration of the access restrictions. Further information on the police action and the status of the detained protesters was awaited.
