1 hr ago
Delhi Tightens Security Ahead of CJP-Led Jantar Mantar Protest
A student group called the Cockroach Janta Party planned a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The protest is against the SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police said the group did not have permission and warned people not to join.
The group’s founder said permission was not needed at that protest site.
Authorities prepared a very large security operation, with more than 50,000 personnel planned for Saturday.
Some trains and Metro stations were shut, and internet service was suspended in part of the city.
The police also set up places to hold people and monitored routes into Delhi.
The CJP said supporters travelling to the protest had been detained in several states.
Some security experts said the restrictions were unusually severe.
Authorities planned to deploy more than 50,000 security personnel in Delhi for Saturday’s protest against the SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police denied permission for the gathering, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke argued that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site where permission is not required.
Metro stations, long-distance train services, hotels and liquor shops faced closures or restrictions, while mobile internet was suspended in part of central Delhi.
Police and paramilitary forces set up border barricades, monitoring measures and 20 detention centres; the CJP said thousands of supporters had been detained in several states.
Security experts described the measures as an unusually severe clampdown, while authorities cited protest restrictions and the expected turnout.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student groups, Delhi Police and central security forces.
- What
- A large security lockdown was imposed ahead of a planned protest against the SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Where
- Delhi, particularly Jantar Mantar and areas around central Delhi.
- When
- The protest was scheduled for Saturday; restrictions began on Friday evening.
- Why
- Authorities said the gathering lacked required advance permission and warned of an unlawful protest; organizers said permission was not needed at Jantar Mantar.
Organizers and Critics
Police and Authorities
Whether the protest required permission
Organizers and Critics
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site and police permission is not required.
Police and Authorities
Delhi Police denied permission, saying applications for gatherings must be submitted at least 15 days in advance and the CJP applied only on October 7.
Scale of security restrictions
Organizers and Critics
Security experts called the measures an unusually severe, war-like clampdown on a peaceful student protest and compared them to restrictions imposed in Kashmir.
Police and Authorities
Authorities imposed restrictions, deployed forces and issued warnings ahead of the planned gathering; the article reports that police cited the lack of permission and warned of legal action.
Key facts
- Planned deployment
- More than 50,000 security personnel were expected to be deployed on Saturday.
- Metro restrictions
- Forty-five stations were to remain closed from 9pm Friday until 6pm Saturday; the article says the initial figure was 57.
- Internet suspension
- Mobile internet was suspended from 10pm Friday to 10pm Saturday within a 4km radius around the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing.
- Detention centres
- Delhi Police set up 20 detention centres across the capital.
- Train cancellations
- Trains departing their originating stations after 2pm on October 9 and scheduled to reach New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4am and 2pm Saturday were cancelled.
- Protest site
- The planned gathering was at Jantar Mantar.
- Police position
- Delhi Police denied permission, saying applications must be submitted at least 15 days in advance.
Quotes
Former BSF director-general
A former director-general of the Border Security Force commenting on the security measures.
“I cannot recall police deployment and other restrictions on this scale in Delhi in the recent past. What we are witnessing is a Kashmirification of India’s capital.”
telegraphindia.com
“This is a war-like security beef-up to contain a peaceful students’ protest.”
telegraphindia.com
Abhijeet Dipke
Founder of the Cockroach Janta Party.
“Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site; police permission is not needed.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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