Delhi protest highlights: Dhruv Rathee, CJP leaders in detention, others released; Delhi curbs eased

Delhi protest highlights: Nearly 4,000 people have been detained in Delhi in view of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s Jantar Mantar protest today, the police said.

Delhi protest highlights: The Cockroach Janta Party has said that it will resume its Jantar Mantar march tomorrow and will stay there till their demands are met. This was announced by Ajinkya Shinde, the CJP leader who leading the charge after detention of Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Shinde also raised concern over the safety of the detained CJP leaders and said that the whereabouts of the trio is unknown after the police took them away from the plane soon after the landed at the Delhi airport.

Nearly 4,000 detained in Delhi

Nearly 4,000 people have been detained in Delhi in view of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s Jantar Mantar protest today, the police said. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, TMC's Mamata Banerjee and AISA's Neha Bora are among those who were detained in the national capital on Saturday. There were also reports of journalists being detained around Jantar Mantar. Posts and videos on social media showed the detained journalists flashing their press cards from the buses.

Wangchuk warns of hunger strike

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday warned of going on another hunger strike if the leaders detained during Saturday's crackdown on anti-CEC protest are not released by tomorrow.

In a video message released on his social media handles, the activist claimed that the country was in a state of "undeclared emergency".

"Yesterday when I posted a message appealing for unity and peace in today's protest, I had never imagined that the biggest democracy in the world would be under an undeclared EMERGENCY," he wrote.

Wangchuk, who extended his support to the anti-CEC protest, was unable to physically take part in the agitation in Delhi. "I was happy there were so many leaders to lead the movement, but I now learn that they have all been arrested," he said.

Several INDIA bloc leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday as they attempted to join the protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

Actor Imran Khan detained in Mumbai

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has been detained in Mumbai where he was participating in the protest against the alleged discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Before his detention, Khan said that he was attending the protest to see why freedom of movement is being restricted and why people's voices are being suppressed. “I am not in a position to make demands of anyone. Nor am I part of any organization. I am just here as a representative,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI

After CJP's Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained upon landing at Delhi airport ahead of their planned protest at Jantar Mantar against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, more leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and AISA's Neha Bora, have been detained in a major police crackdown.

Amid heavy barricading and troop deployment around Jantar Mantar, the CJP urged people to march towards the protest venue. “If Delhi Police tries to stop you, wherever they stop you will become your Jantar Mantar,” CJP's Ajinkya Shinde, who is leading the anti-CEC stir after Dipke's detention, said in a video shared on X.

Security beefed up in Delhi

Delhi has been turned into a fortress, with more than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel deployed, and barricades and spike strips installed ahead of the planned protest at Jantar Mantar. The protesters are seeking the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Jantar Mantar 2.0: Why CJP is protesting again

The CJP has been demanding that CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls. The group has continued to raise the issue through protests and public statements, including a demonstration in Mumbai on October 2.

The latest protest has been planned at Jantar Mantar in Delhi; however, the Delhi Police said the organisers did not have the required permission to hold the demonstration and rejected their request, citing public interest.

The controversy over Kumar's role in the Election Commission intensified after an investigative report by The Indian Express. It reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and procedures linked to the SIR exercise.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that around 13 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls since 2024. He also linked the alleged deletions to the narrow vote-share gap between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, arguing that large-scale changes to voter lists could influence election results.

The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, maintaining that major decisions, including the SIR of electoral rolls, had been taken unanimously by the full commission.

Delhi turns into a fortress

Ahead of the protest, security was tightened around Jantar Mantar and the roads leading to the site. Barricades were put up, with security personnel deployed at key points.

Loudspeakers at three major entry and exit points issued warnings in Hindi and English against gatherings, processions, road blockades and other activities prohibited under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Delhi Police said more than 15,000 personnel had been deployed to manage the anticipated turnout on Saturday, while the number of central force personnel in the city was expected to be around 26,000.

Security measures also affected public transport. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) initially announced that entry and exit would be suspended at 57 stations from 9 pm on Friday until Saturday. It later revised the list to 45 stations.

The Railways also cancelled mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, citing the possibility of heavy road congestion.

CJP protest: What's open and what's closed in Delhi

Movement across Delhi has been affected by train cancellations, restrictions at Metro stations, the closure of retail liquor shops and tighter police security ahead of the planned protest. These measures have raised concerns over travel and access to several parts of the national capital.

• No mail and express trains at 2 Delhi stations

The Railways cancelled mail and express trains at their originating stations if they were scheduled to arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, October 10. The decision was taken amid concerns over heavy road traffic around the stations due to a planned protest in central Delhi.

• Entry and exit restrictions at 57 stations

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations have been closed from 9 pm on Friday. The restrictions will remain in place through Saturday until the situation returns to normal.

• Retail liquor shops

Retail liquor outlets across Delhi will remain closed on October 9 and 10 under an order issued by the excise department. The restrictions cover specified outlets selling Indian, foreign and country liquor, including some shops located in malls.

However, licensed restaurants, bars and clubs will continue to serve liquor as usual, an excise department official said.

• Entry to Jantar Mantar restricted

The Delhi Police has also restricted access to Jantar Mantar ahead of the protest. Even media personnel have been denied entry to the protest site.

• Namo Bharat's Delhi stations closed

The Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat stations in Delhi will remain closed from 9 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10.