Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Jantar Mantar Blockade Sends Protesters Across Delhi in Flash Demonstrations
Police heavily guarded Jantar Mantar, where a protest had been planned.
Many people could not get to the site because roads and entrances were blocked.
Some leaders were detained, so protesters gathered in smaller groups around Delhi instead.
They held short demonstrations at places such as Dilli Haat and Connaught Place.
Police stopped or detained people at several locations.
The protesters called for election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
They also wanted the voter-list revision exercise called SIR to be stopped.
The day showed how demonstrations continued in scattered places despite the restrictions.
Heavy security, barricades and travel restrictions prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
With senior Cockroach Janta Party leaders detained, demonstrators split into small groups and staged protests across Delhi.
At Dilli Haat, police detained around 200 people by 6:30 pm; the market was closed to visitors.
Flash demonstrations at Safdarjung flyover, Connaught Place, Sansad Marg, Gole Market, Shankar Road and Rajghat were met with police detentions and dispersals.
Protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party supporters, student groups and other activists, including AISA president Neha Bora, advocate Prashant Bhushan and activist Yogendra Yadav.
- What
- Protesters staged scattered demonstrations after security restrictions blocked access to the planned Jantar Mantar protest.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026; demonstrations occurred through the afternoon.
- Where
- Multiple locations in New Delhi, including Dilli Haat, Safdarjung flyover, Connaught Place, Sansad Marg, Gole Market, Shankar Road and Rajghat.
- Why
- Protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and called for the Special Intensive Revision exercise to be scrapped.
Protesters’ position
Authorities’ response
Access to Jantar Mantar
Protesters’ position
Protesters sought to reach the announced demonstration site and staged gatherings elsewhere when they could not get through.
Authorities’ response
Security forces imposed barricades, entry restrictions and travel controls around the area.
Demonstrations and crowd control
Protesters’ position
Activists said they were demonstrating for voting rights and against the SIR exercise, and continued to gather in small groups.
Authorities’ response
Police and security personnel dispersed gatherings and detained protesters at multiple locations.
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar
- Main demands
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision exercise
- Dilli Haat detentions
- Officials said around 200 protesters had been detained there by 6:30 pm.
- Safdarjung flyover detentions
- Around 50 protesters were detained after a confrontation.
- Sansad Marg detentions
- Police detained about 30 SFI supporters during a protest around 1 pm.
- Other locations
- Connaught Place, Gole Market, Shankar Road and Rajghat
- Market closure
- Dilli Haat authorities closed the market to visitors as protests continued outside.