New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- Despite the detention of key organisers and the closure of its announced venue, the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Lehra Do Tiranga" march brought hundreds of demonstrators carrying the national flag to Connaught Place on Friday. Separate gatherings around Mandi House and Barakhamba Road turned the planned procession into scattered protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained while leaving his residence in Jhandewalan, while All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was detained near Mandi House as she headed towards Connaught Place. At least 150 people were detained during the day, according to reports citing police figures. Demonstrators nevertheless assembled with the Tricolour, raised slogans and moved through parts of Connaught Place's inner circle.
The CJP also alleged that Dipke had been taken to an undisclosed location and that the party had lost contact with him. In a post on social media, the party claimed he was not being allowed to speak to his lawyers and questioned the authorities' treatment of young protesters, asserting that they were entitled to the rights and protections guaranteed by the Constitution.
The New Delhi Municipal Council kept Central Park closed on October 16 and 17, although it had been announced as the venue for the 5 pm march. Delhi Police had served Dipke a notice warning against holding the gathering without permission, citing possible disruption to residents, traders, commuters and patients.
Police invoked prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), maintaining that public gatherings and processions required permission. Authorities also indicated that demonstrations could be held at alternative venues, including Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, subject to approval.
More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and around 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were reported deployed or available for security duties.
Other reports put the wider CAPF presence in the capital at around 26,000 personnel. More than 10 CCTV cameras were reportedly installed around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk, alongside barricades and additional security teams.
Police said the arrangements were aimed at preventing disorder and keeping traffic moving. Jostling was reported as officers moved to disperse protesters, while some demonstrators attempted to stop a police vehicle carrying Dipke. Counter-slogans were also reported near Palika Bazaar from people opposing the demand for the CEC's resignation.
Earlier in the day, more than 20 Delhi Police personnel had visited Dipke's residence and served him a notice directing him to refrain from any action that could prejudice the rights of citizens, traders, commuters, patients and others.
Dipke had alleged that plainclothes personnel were monitoring the house where he was staying.
Reports said he questioned the legal basis for his detention and signed an undertaking to maintain peace. Police, meanwhile, maintained that their actions were necessary to enforce restrictions and preserve public order.
AISA raised concerns after Bora's detention, with people associated with the organisation alleging that she had been taken to an undisclosed location.
The concern added to the dispute over the treatment of demonstrators and the handling of preventive detentions. Police accounts and the organisation's allegations require separate attribution.
The protests unfolded at several locations rather than as one continuous procession: groups gathered at Connaught Place, while student activists approached from Mandi House and Barakhamba Road.
Police intervened at different points, detaining people and restricting movement. An AAP-led march was also stopped by police, according to reports.
The march followed the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on October 13. Both were sent to five days of judicial custody after a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
CJP has demanded Kumar's resignation and called for the withdrawal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has denied allegations of bias.
The demonstrations also drew participants concerned about unemployment, electoral accountability, restrictions on displaying the national flag and continuing violence in Manipur.
Some protesters alleged that police action had prevented peaceful dissent; these accounts reflect their experiences and claims, rather than independently established
findings of misconduct.
Opposition leaders criticised the restrictions and detentions. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the action against Dipke, while AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal criticised the curbs on the march. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met students who alleged that police had beaten them, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also expressed concern over the handling of the demonstrations.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in contrast, accused opposition leaders of using young people to create disorder under the cover of election-related protests.
The campaign extended to Mumbai, where CJP held a permitted gathering at Azad Maidan. Reports put attendance below 50 despite a police deployment of around 500 personnel.
Participants reiterated demands for Kumar's resignation and accountability over police action in Delhi.
Anjali Damania and Sandip Deshpande were among those associated with the Mumbai demonstration, while the reported absence of coordinator Pranav Ahire and communication problems were cited as possible reasons for the low turnout.
Smaller demonstrations were also reported in cities including Bengaluru and Patna.
The wider dispute has also drawn judicial scrutiny over protest restrictions and detentions.
Those proceedings form the backdrop to Friday's demonstrations but do not, by themselves, establish the legality of every action taken during the day.
By evening, the announced march had unfolded as scattered gatherings rather than one uninterrupted procession. Organisers maintained that restrictions curtailed peaceful dissent, while police said permission requirements and public-order concerns justified their intervention.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.