New Delhi, 10 October (H.S.):

The national capital was placed on heightened security alert on Saturday ahead of a proposed demonstration by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and several other organisations at Jantar Mantar, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The Delhi Police has refused permission for the demonstration and deployed extensive security arrangements across the capital. Despite the restrictions, people have begun converging in the vicinity of Jantar Mantar.

The protesters’ principal demands include Kumar’s resignation, criminal proceedings against him, an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, restoration of the January 2025 electoral roll, an independent investigation, and repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners.

The Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the Jantar Mantar area. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed, while extensive barricading has been erected at the protest site and surrounding localities. Internet services have also been restricted in several parts of the capital.

In a sweeping security measure, 57 Delhi Metro stations were ordered to remain closed from 9 p.m. on Friday until normalcy returned on Saturday. The Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat stations are scheduled to remain closed from 9 p.m. on Friday until 10 p.m. on Saturday.

However, Namo Bharat train services between Anand Vihar and Modipuram will continue to operate according to their scheduled timetable.

The Delhi Police has detained 200 people so far, reportedly including active supporters of the CJP and Left-wing parties.

In view of the proposed demonstration, all trains departing from New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Tilak Bridge railway stations were cancelled after 2 p.m. on Friday. Trains scheduled to arrive at these stations between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday have also been cancelled. More than 224 trains, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services, are set to remain cancelled on Saturday. The disruption affects 179 local trains as well.

Internet services have additionally been suspended for 24 hours, beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path area in the New Delhi district.

In a statement issued on Friday night, the Delhi Police made it clear that the CJP had not been granted permission to organise demonstrations anywhere in the national capital. It warned that supporters attempting to enter Delhi in private vehicles through the Indira Gandhi International Airport, railway stations or borders with neighbouring states would be detained upon entry and subsequently taken to 35 designated detention centres.

Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range) Nupur Prasad said CJP leader Saurabh Das had sought permission on October 7 to hold the demonstration on October 10. Under the applicable rules, applications for demonstrations are generally required to be submitted approximately 10 days in advance. The application, she noted, had not been filed within the prescribed timeframe.

Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 163 have been extended across Delhi, particularly in the New Delhi district, as part of efforts to maintain law and order. Roads leading to Jantar Mantar have been fortified with extensive barricades. More than 35,000 personnel from the Delhi Police, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have reportedly been deployed. Riot-control vehicles and water cannons have also been stationed at strategic locations.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, speaking from Mumbai ahead of his proposed arrival at Jantar Mantar, alleged that the heightened security arrangements reflected the Central Government’s apprehension about young people, particularly Generation Z.

The restrictions imposed on the Delhi Metro and other public transport services in the wake of the proposed demonstration also came under scrutiny in the Supreme Court on Friday. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana urged the Centre to ensure that public transport services continued in a regulated manner to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

Addressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the Bench suggested that the Government explore an alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for facilitating a peaceful demonstration.

Ahead of the protest, the Delhi Police has intensified security checks and established checkpoints at multiple locations. Particular vigilance is being maintained along the Delhi–Haryana and Delhi–Uttar Pradesh borders to prevent any potential disruption.

Meanwhile, leaders of opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc submitted a memorandum to the President ahead of the CJP demonstration. The memorandum carries the signatures of representatives from 16 political parties.

The Delhi Police has also categorically rejected as misleading and unfounded reports claiming that Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda or any other political leader had been placed under house arrest. The police appealed to the public to exercise caution, refrain from believing unverified information circulating on social media, and avoid sharing unsubstantiated claims.

A formidable security cordon has been established around the proposed protest site, with restrictions and barricading reportedly extending across a radius of approximately five kilometres. The Centre is said to have provided 221 companies of security personnel, whose deployment is scheduled to continue until October 12.

Police personnel have been positioned at major entry points into Delhi from Gurugram, Faridabad, Panipat, Ghaziabad and Noida. Schools and colleges have also been closed in view of the security situation.

The Union Home Ministry has directed all states and Union Territories to coordinate closely with the Delhi Police to ensure effective security management.

In a communication to Directors General of Police (DGPs), the Union Home Secretary instructed state and Union Territory authorities to facilitate continuous, real-time intelligence sharing among their respective intelligence agencies, border transit authorities and the Delhi Police.

Citing a Supreme Court order issued in 2018, the Home Secretary underscored the imperative of strictly enforcing established protocols governing public assemblies and gatherings in the area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar