Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, Oct 10: At least five trains bound for New Delhi from different parts of Madhya Pradesh have been cancelled, while several students travelling to the national capital to participate in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have reportedly been detained, triggering allegations of attempts to prevent protesters from reaching the capital.
The developments came ahead of the protest scheduled for Saturday, October 10, in Delhi. The demonstration was called over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The five trains reportedly cancelled include the 20155 Dr Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Express, Indore–Hazrat Nizamuddin/New Delhi Special Express, Sabarmati–New Delhi Express, which passes through Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur–Hazrat Nizamuddin Mahakoshal Express and Jabalpur–Hazrat Nizamuddin Gondwana Superfast Express.
Meanwhile, at least 14 students from Pune in Maharashtra, including two women, were taken off the Goa Express at Itarsi railway station in Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday evening while travelling to Delhi to participate in the protest.
The students are reportedly associated with the All India Students Federation (AISF). According to police sources, they were detained under Section 172 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with compliance with lawful directions issued by police officers. They were subsequently taken to a private hotel-cum-resort in Itarsi.
The students were released and sent back home on Friday evening, police sources said.
The detention of two women among the group also reached the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur on Friday. Family members of the two women filed habeas corpus petitions seeking their production before the court.
The High Court issued notices to the state government and police and directed the authorities to produce the two students before it by Monday, October 12, or earlier.
According to reports, the police action was not limited to Itarsi. Some students travelling to Delhi for the protest were also reportedly detained at Gwalior railway station. In Bhopal, another 10 students travelling by train to attend the demonstration were detained and taken to Barkatullah University.
The Indian Express separately reported that at least 30 protesters travelling towards Delhi had been intercepted and removed from trains at stations including Bhopal, Itarsi and Gwalior. Those detained reportedly included activists from different states who were being counselled to return to their home states.
The detentions prompted protests by student organisations in Madhya Pradesh. The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) alleged that its state activists had taken to the streets to demand the release of their fellow students, but police were attempting to forcibly remove them.
In a post on X, NSUI Madhya Pradesh accused the government of attempting to prevent students from reaching Delhi and said its activists stood firmly with their fellow students and were fighting for their release.
The incident came amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of the CJP demonstration. The protest has drawn attention to the controversy surrounding the revision of electoral rolls, with critics alleging irregularities in the process and demanding accountability from the Election Commission.
The cancellation of trains and detention of protesters have raised concerns over the ability of people from different states to reach Delhi to participate in the planned demonstration.