New Delhi, Oct 10 : More than 3,000 people, including Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and opposition leaders Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained in Delhi on Saturday as police enforced stringent security measures to prevent a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The proposed demonstration, demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, was denied permission by authorities, prompting protesters to assemble at different locations across the national capital.
Dipke and fellow CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained from inside an aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving from Mumbai, while social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram, officials said.
Mamata Banerjee, former chief minister of West Bengal, was detained along with Trinamool Congress leaders near her Delhi residence. Kejriwal, former Delhi chief minister, was also detained when he attempted to join the demonstration.
The detained protesters were taken to different locations, including Chhatrasal Stadium and police stations, as security personnel prevented demonstrators from reaching the designated protest venue.
Delhi witnessed extensive security arrangements, with thousands of police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the city. Entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations were closed, mobile internet restrictions were imposed in parts of central Delhi, and traffic diversions and barricades were introduced at several locations.
More than 250 train services were also cancelled or affected by the security arrangements, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Minor clashes were reported at some locations. Stones were allegedly thrown at a bus carrying detained protesters in the Jhandewalan area, while a separate confrontation occurred near Akashwani Bhawan after demonstrators attempted to breach police barricades.
The detentions triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the action, alleging that the government was suppressing peaceful dissent.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, however, defended the security measures, saying the capital would not be allowed to be held hostage by political demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition on Sunday alleging that restrictions on Metro services and public movement during the protest violated its directions.
The CJP has vowed to continue its agitation until the chief election commissioner's resign
