India, Oct. 11 -- Police began picking up protesters around Connaught Place and Sansad Marg between 1am and 2am on Saturday, and by daybreak the heart of the Capital had been emptied of everyone but security personnel, anti-riot vehicles and journalists, as more than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel moved to stop the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest from taking hold.

By 9pm, more than 67,000 protesters had been detained across Delhi. Those who tried to gather were dragged away and detained almost as soon as they appeared.

Every approach was sealed. From Vikas Marg, the Safdarjung flyover and ITO, streets were lined with officers and layers of barricades, some fitted with spikes and some welded together, while senior officers ...