Delhi Police detain CJP leaders at Jantar Mantar
Youth-led group challenges protest restrictions, demands Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
New Delhi: Police in Delhi detained leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday after they entered the Jantar Mantar protest site, which had been barricaded by police.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the detentions followed a 24-hour ultimatum issued by CJP on Monday, demanding that police allot a date for a protest at the site against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Jantar Mantar protest restrictions
On Monday, police announced that Jantar Mantar, in the heart of the Indian capital, had been taken off the list of designated official protest sites. Under the order, demonstrations were to be held at three alternative locations: Ramlila Ground in central Delhi, Burari Ground in northern Delhi and CBD Ground in Shahdara, eastern Delhi.
Jantar Mantar has been sealed off for several days by yellow metal barricades and a heavy police presence.
CJP defies police barricades
However, a video posted online by CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday showed protesters climbing over the barricades, running into the empty space and waving the Indian flag before police chased and detained them.
“CJP sneaks inside to reclaim Jantar Mantar,” the group said in a social media post, adding that those detained included its leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde.
“All of them have been detained by Delhi Police,” it added.
Jantar Mantar has served for decades as a major protest site in the Indian capital. The CJP had also held demonstrations there that led to the Indian education minister stepping down over an examination scandal in July.
“You cannot denotify the resistance,” Dipke said in his post, tagging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Protests mount against Election Commission
Opposition parties and supporters of the youth-led movement have taken to the streets in recent days, defying the security clampdown to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They accuse the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
