Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 17: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was placed under preventive arrest by Delhi Police ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest march at Connaught Place on Friday, October 16, while All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early on Saturday after being detained during a protest in central Delhi.
Dipke was detained shortly before the scheduled march when he stepped out of the residence where he was staying in Jhandewalan, Karol Bagh, to join protesters at Central Park in Connaught Place. Police initiated action against him under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), relating to security for keeping the peace and preventive arrest.
According to police sources, Dipke was expected to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Saturday. Reports by The Indian Express and NDTV said he was scheduled to appear before the magistrate later in the day. CJP legal head Ratna Singh also alleged that Dipke’s whereabouts were unknown and that the party’s lawyers had not been able to meet him.
Bora, who was detained while attempting to reach Connaught Place with supporters, was released early on Saturday after the completion of formalities under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act.
The detentions came amid heightened security in the national capital ahead of the CJP’s planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march. The party and allied student organisations had called for the demonstration at Central Park to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
According to The Indian Express, Delhi Police had served Dipke a notice before the march, asking him not to proceed without lawful permission. The notice reportedly cited concerns over public movement, traders’ livelihoods and the disruption that a gathering could cause in the commercial area. Police also maintained that Connaught Place was not a designated protest site and that demonstrations could be held at authorised locations after obtaining permission.
Dipke was detained at around 4.50 pm when he stepped out of the Karol Bagh residence. An account published by The Indian Express said he questioned the police action before unfurling the national flag and being taken away in a police vehicle.
Security arrangements were tightened across central Delhi, with police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed around Connaught Place. The New Delhi Municipal Council also closed Central Park to the public on Friday and Saturday, citing administrative reasons.
Despite the restrictions, protesters gathered at several locations around Connaught Place, carrying the Tricolour and raising slogans. The Indian Express reported that around 2,000 people had gathered in and around the area, while The Tribune reported that approximately 150 protesters had been detained during the demonstrations. Police personnel dispersed the gatherings as the evening progressed.
Bora had called for a protest near Mandi House at around 5 pm and began marching with supporters shortly after. She was detained as police moved to prevent the demonstrators from proceeding towards Connaught Place. Other student organisations also held demonstrations in central Delhi, demanding action over the electoral-roll revision and related issues.
The latest protest followed the detention of other CJP leaders earlier in the week. CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das had been sent to five days of judicial custody after being arrested during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Dipke had called the October 16 march in support of the detained leaders.
The movement has been organising protests demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties and protest groups have alleged that the revision could disproportionately affect minority communities and other voters. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias and said voters whose names were wrongly removed can seek re-enrolment.
The detentions have also triggered political reactions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backed the protesting students and criticised the police action, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described Dipke’s preventive detention as “nothing short of an undeclared Emergency”. The BJP-led government, meanwhile, has accused opposition parties of using young protesters for political purposes.
With Dipke remaining in custody and Bora released, attention has shifted to the proceedings before the Special Executive Magistrate and the next steps in the protest movement.