New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke and AISA chief Neha Bora were preventively detained by Delhi Police here on Friday while on their way to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protests, with Dipke headed to Connaught Place and Bora to Mandi House.
While Dipke was picked up from his residence in Jhandewalan, Bora was detained at Mandi House. The detentions triggered scenes of jostling among crowds, camera crews and security personnel.
Police sources said Dipke was taken to Jafarpur Kalan police station after being detained.
Earlier in the day, more than 20 Delhi Police personnel had visited Dipke’s residence in Jhandewalan and served him a notice directing him to refrain from any action that could prejudice the rights of citizens, traders, commuters, patients and others.
The detentions came amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of the proposed protest on Friday evening.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar visited the DCP New Delhi office at Parliament Street police station to review security arrangements.
“We have detained Dipke and Bora. The situation is very peaceful. Some protesters have reached Connaught Place and will be removed soon. Our main objective is to maintain law and order and ensure smooth traffic movement,” a senior police officer said.
Security personnel cordoned off Central Park in Connaught Place, forming a human chain along its metal railings. A tear gas vehicle and a Vajra vehicle were stationed outside the park, while Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed inside.
Several traffic police personnel were also deployed to regulate movement along the inner and outer circles of Connaught Place.
Meanwhile hundreds of CJP supporters and members of student organisations carrying the national flag held a series of flash protests in central Delhi’s Connaught Place and Mandi House on Friday evening amid heavy police deployment.
The protesters walked through the inner circle of Connaught Place, intermittently raising the slogan of ‘Jai Hind’ before dispersing and regrouping at different spots. Some also sang the national anthem.
Students and members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) protested at Mandi House, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and withdrawal of the 2023 Election Commissioner Appointment Act.
Minor altercations broke out between the protesters and police as the latter attempted to disperse the crowd.
The protests were held in response to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march, which was scheduled to be held at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm.
Police, however, did not grant permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which bar mass gatherings in Connaught Place and adjoining areas. Central Park has been closed to the public on Friday and Saturday.
Journalists and independent YouTube reporters were seen covering the protests. A few independent YouTube journalists were heckled.
More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and 220 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies, each comprising around 100 personnel, have been deployed in the New Delhi area to prevent any law and order situation.
