New Delhi: Three Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders – Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka – were released from detention by an Executive Magistrate’s court in Delhi on Sunday, subject to the condition that they maintain peace for one year.
Meanwhile, stringent traffic restrictions remained in force across parts of the national capital for a second consecutive day as the CJP renewed its call for daily protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The restrictions, which came amid a security clampdown over the planned demonstrations, affected traffic movement around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and other key intersections in Lutyens’ Delhi. According to a Delhi Traffic Police advisory, diversions were enforced from 6 am.
At a press conference at HKS Surjeet Bhawan on Saturday, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said marches to Jantar Mantar would be held daily until Kumar was removed from office. The party had planned to launch an indefinite protest on October 10, but Delhi Police denied permission for Saturday’s demonstration, citing procedural issues and law-and-order concerns.
The three leaders were detained by Delhi Police inside an Air India aircraft shortly after it landed in Delhi on Saturday, ahead of the planned protest. Shinde alleged that the police had subjected protesters, including Dipke, to inhumane treatment during detention.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has also announced demonstrations in support of the agitation. Its general secretary, Srijan Bhattacharyya, said students would hold peaceful protests and turn locations where police barricades stopped them into protest sites.
The Delhi Traffic Police advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel and allow extra time for journeys to railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and the airport, particularly when travelling through central and New Delhi. Restrictions would be regulated or relaxed based on real-time assessments, it said, urging commuters to follow updates on its official website and social media platforms.
Security personnel stand guard at Ashoka Road following continued demonstration calls by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, Sunday. Photo: PTI.
The CJP-led agitation seeks Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns about voter registration. The party has alleged that the exercise led to the deletion of 13 crore voters from the rolls. Opposition parties and other groups have also raised concerns about voter exclusion and transparency in the revision process.
Saturday’s protest was marked by heavy security deployment, barricades and detentions across the capital. Around 7,000 people were detained across Delhi, according to national media.
