Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Delhi Police Detain Protesters Ahead of Jantar Mantar Demonstration
The Cockroach Janta Party planned a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The party said the protest was about alleged problems with electoral rolls and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Police detained several people who wanted to join, including party organisers, politicians, activists and some journalists.
Reports also said people were detained in Mumbai and Chandigarh.
More than 40,000 security personnel were deployed across Delhi.
Police closed Jantar Mantar and blocked nearby roads.
They announced restrictions on gatherings and processions under a law called the BNSS.
The reports describe disagreement and concern about how the restrictions affected the protest and media access.
The Cockroach Janta Party called a Jantar Mantar protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
CJP organisers Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained after their aircraft landed at Delhi airport; Dhruv Rathee was reportedly detained in Gurugram.
Politicians, activists and student representatives were also reported detained, including Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan; detentions were reported in Mumbai and Chandigarh as well.
More than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed across the capital, while Jantar Mantar was sealed and nearby roads barricaded.
Police warnings cited restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita; journalists also reported detentions or being denied access.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party organisers, opposition politicians, activists, student representatives and journalists; Delhi Police and security personnel.
- What
- A planned protest was met with widespread reported detentions and extensive security restrictions.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, according to the article.
- Where
- The protest was planned for Jantar Mantar in Delhi; detentions were also reported in Gurugram, Mumbai and Chandigarh.
- Why
- The CJP called the protest over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; police restrictions were aimed at preventing a gathering.
Protest and media-access concerns
Police restrictions and public order
Access to the demonstration
Protest and media-access concerns
The article reports detentions of people seeking to join the protest and says media personnel were denied access, raising concerns about participation and coverage.
Police restrictions and public order
Police sealed Jantar Mantar, barricaded nearby roads and broadcast warnings against gatherings, processions and road blockades under BNSS Section 163.
Reason for the protest
Protest and media-access concerns
The CJP and other participants sought to protest alleged electoral-roll irregularities and called for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Police restrictions and public order
The article says authorities deployed security to prevent protesters from converging on the planned venue; it does not give a detailed police explanation for each detention.
- Planned venue
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Protest issue
- Alleged irregularities in electoral rolls
- Demand reported
- Protesters called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
- Security deployment
- More than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel, according to the article
- Reported restrictions
- Jantar Mantar was sealed, connecting roads were barricaded and media access was restricted
- Legal provision cited
- Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Reported locations of detentions
- Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Chandigarh
